''Biomphalaria'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of air-breathing

freshwater snail Freshwater snails are gastropod mollusks which live in fresh water. There are many different families. They are found throughout the world in various habitats, ranging from ephemeral pools to the largest lakes, and from small seeps and springs ...

s, aquatic pulmonate gastropod

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is es ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Planorbidae, the

ram Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to: Animals * A male sheep * Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish People * Ram (given name) * Ram (surname) * Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director * RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch ...

's horn

snail A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class G ...

s and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=718742 on 2018-02-13 ''Biomphalaria'' is the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nomina ...

of the tribe Biomphalariini. ''Taphius'' is a synonym for ''Biomphalaria''. The shell of this species, like all planorbids is sinistral in coiling, but is carried upside down and thus appears to be dextral. Biomphalaria tenagophila shell

Species

As of 2008 there were recognized 34 extant species in the genus ''Biomphalaria'' in total (22 American species and 12 Old World species). There were also described number of fossil ''Biomphalaria'' species. American species include: # ''

Biomphalaria amazonica ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' Paraense, 1966 # '' Biomphalaria andecola'' (d'Orbigny, 1835) # ''

Biomphalaria cousini ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' # ''

Biomphalaria edisoni ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' Estrada, Velásquez, Caldeira, Bejarano, Rojas & Carvalho, 2006 # ''

Biomphalaria glabrata ''Biomphalaria glabrata'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. ''Biomphalaria glabrata'' is an intermediate snail host for the trematode ' ...

'' (Say, 1818) # ''

Biomphalaria havanensis ''Biomphalaria havanensis'', common name the ghost rams-horn, is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. The shell of this species, like all planor ...

'' (L. Pfeiffer, 1839) # ''

Biomphalaria helophila ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' (d'Orbigny, 1835) # ''

Biomphalaria intermedia ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' (Paraense & Deslandes, 1962)Rumi A., Gregoric D. E. G., Núñez V. & Darrigran G. A. (2008). "Malacología Latinoamericana. Moluscos de agua dulce de Argentina". '' Revista de Biología Tropical'' 56(1): 77–111
HTM
# ''

Biomphalaria kuhniana ''Biomphalaria kuhniana'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. Shell description All species within the family Planorbidae have sinistra ...

'' (Clessin, 1883) # † ''

Biomphalaria manya ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' Cabrera & Martinez, 2018 # ''

Biomphalaria obstructa ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' # ''

Biomphalaria occidentalis ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' Paraense, 1981 # ''

Biomphalaria oligoza ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' Paraense, 1974 # ''

Biomphalaria orbignyi ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Re ...

'' Paraense, 1975 # '' Biomphalaria peregrina'' (d'Orbigny, 1835) # '' Biomphalaria prona'' # ''

Biomphalaria schrammi ''Biomphalaria schrammi'' is a species of gastropods belonging to the family Planorbidae. The species is found in Southern America. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q20045945 Planorbidae Gastropods described in 1864 ...

'' (Crosse, 1864) # '' Biomphalaria straminea'' (Dunker, 1848) # ''

Biomphalaria subprona ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic animal, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Planorbidae, the sheep, ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Pre ...

'' (Martens, 1899) # '' Biomphalaria temascalensis'' Rangel-Ruiz, 1987 # ''

Biomphalaria tenagophila ''Biomphalaria tenagophila'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. This species is medically important pest, because of transferring the disea ...

'' (d'Orbigny, 1835)

Old World The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by th ...

(Africa, Madagascar and the Middle East) species include: # '' Biomphalaria alexandrina'' # ''

Biomphalaria angulosa ''Biomphalaria angulosa'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca ...

'' Mandahl-Barth, 1957 # ''

Biomphalaria barthi ''Biomphalaria barthi'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca c ...

'' Brown, 1973 # '' Biomphalaria camerunensis'' # '' Biomphalaria choanomphala'' # ''

Biomphalaria pfeifferi ''Biomphalaria pfeifferi'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic animal pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. This snail is a medically important pest, because of transferring the d ...

'' (Krauss, 1848) # ''

Biomphalaria salinarum ''Biomphalaria salinarum'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic animal, aquatic pulmonate gastropod Mollusc, mollusk in the family (biology), family Planorbidae, the sheep, ram's horn snails. This is a ''Species inquirenda, ...

'' Morelet # '' Biomphalaria smithi'' Preston, 1910 - type species # '' Biomphalaria stanleyi'' (Smith, 1888) # '' Biomphalaria sudanica'' (Martens, 1870) # ''

Biomphalaria tchadiensis ''Biomphalaria tchadiensis'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. This species is endemic to lake Chad Lake Chad (french: Lac Tchad) ...

'' Germain, 1904 # '' Biomphalaria ruppellii'' Auet. - subspecies: ''Biomphalaria ruppellii ruppellii'' Auet.; ''Biomphalaria ruppellii katangae'' Haas There is one known

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

Biomphalaria glabrata × Biomphalaria alexandrina ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World ...

'' from Egypt. A

cladogram A cladogram (from Greek ''clados'' "branch" and ''gramma'' "character") is a diagram used in cladistics to show relations among organisms. A cladogram is not, however, an evolutionary tree because it does not show how ancestors are related to ...

showing phylogenic relations of (23 analyzed) species in the genus ''Biomphalaria'':
text

Distribution

The origin of the genus ''Biomphalaria'' is American. The ancestor of ''

'' colonized Africa 2.3–4.5 or 2-5/ millions years ago and speciated into all the African ''Biomphalaria'' species. Natural populations of these snails are usually found in tropical standing water or freshwater in

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...

and

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

, but they also reach 30° latitude in subtropical areas. Many species of these red-blooded planorbid snails (Gastropoda: Basommatophora) are able to survive a long time when removed from their freshwater habitat. Of the 34 ''Biomphalaria'' species, 4 (''

'', ''

'', '' Biomphalaria straminea'', and ''

'') have recently expanded their native ranges. They have been introduced to areas where other ''Biomphalaria'' species are endemic (e.g., Congo and Egypt) or to subtropical zones that have no frost period (Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Hong Kong). All species in the genus ''Biomphalaria'' except of native ''

'' has not yet become established in the US, but they are considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a

pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...

, an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species adv ...

which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore, it has been suggested that this species be given top national

quarantine A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have been ...

significance in the USA.

Parasites

This genus of snails is medically important, because the snails can carry a parasite of humans which represents a serious disease risk: the snails serve as an

intermediate host In biology and medicine, a host is a larger organism that harbours a smaller organism; whether a parasitic, a mutualistic, or a commensalist ''guest'' (symbiont). The guest is typically provided with nourishment and shelter. Examples include a ...

(

vector Vector most often refers to: *Euclidean vector, a quantity with a magnitude and a direction *Vector (epidemiology), an agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism Vector may also refer to: Mathematic ...

) for the human parasitic

blood fluke ''Schistosoma'' is a genus of trematodes, commonly known as blood flukes. They are parasitic flatworms responsible for a highly significant group of infections in humans termed ''schistosomiasis'', which is considered by the World Health Organi ...

, '' Schistosoma mansoni'', that infects about 83 million people. The human disease

schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever, bilharzia, and Katayama fever, is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes. The urinary tract or the intestines may be infected. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody ...

(aka snail fever) caused by all '' Schistosoma'' species (transmitted also by other snails) infects 200 million people.The Carter Cente
"Schistosomiasis Control Program"
Accessed 20 November 2009. The fluke, which is found primarily in tropical areas, infects mammals (including humans) via contact with water that contains schistosome larvae (cercariae) which have previously been released from the snail. Infection occurs via penetration of cercariae through the skin. Eighteen species of ''Biomphalaria'' are intermediate hosts for ''Schistosoma mansoni''; seven species of the genus have not been tested for this susceptibility and nine species are resistant. Altogether about 30 species of parasites from Africa and at least 20 species from the

Neotropics The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone. Definition In bi ...

are known to parasitize ''Biomphalaria''.

References

This article incorporates

public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly waived, or may be inapplicable. Because those rights have expired, ...

text from the Majoros ''et al.'' reference.

Species

Distribution

Parasites

References

Further reading