Lymnaeidae,
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...
the pond snails, is a
taxonomic
280px, Generalized scheme of taxonomy
Taxonomy is a practice and science concerned with classification or categorization. Typically, there are two parts to it: the development of an underlying scheme of classes (a taxonomy) and the allocation ...
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
of small to large air-breathing
freshwater snail
Freshwater snails are gastropod mollusks that 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 t ...
s,
aquatic
Aquatic means relating to water; living in or near water or taking place in water; does not include groundwater, as "aquatic" implies an environment where plants and animals live.
Aquatic(s) may also refer to:
* Aquatic animal, either vertebrate ...
pulmonate
Pulmonata or pulmonates is an informal group (previously an order, and before that, a subclass) of snails and slugs characterized by the ability to breathe air, by virtue of having a pallial lung instead of a gill, or gills. The group inclu ...
gastropod
Gastropods (), commonly known as slugs and snails, belong to a large Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda ().
This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, freshwater, and fro ...
mollusk
Mollusca is a phylum of protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum after Arthropoda. The ...
s, that belong to the
clade
In biology, a clade (), also known as a Monophyly, monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that is composed of a common ancestor and all of its descendants. Clades are the fundamental unit of cladistics, a modern approach t ...
Hygrophila.
Lymnaeidae is the only family within the superfamily Lymnaeoidea (according to the
taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).
Taxonomy
2005 taxonomy
Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) recognized four subfamilies within Lymnaeidae:
* subfamily Lymnaeinae Rafinesque, 1815 - synonyms: Amphipepleinae Pini, 1877; Limnophysidae W. Dybowski, 1903; Acellinae Hannibal, 1912; Fossariinae B. Dybowski 1913
* subfamily Lancinae Hannibal, 1914
* † subfamily Scalaxinae Zilch, 1959
* † subfamily Valencieniinae Kramberger-Gorjanovic, 1923 - synonym: Clivunellidae Kochansky-Devidé & Sliskovic, 1972
2013 taxonomy
Vinarski (2013)
[Vinarski M. V. (2013). "One, two, or several? How many lymnaeid genera are there?". ''Ruthenica'' 23(1): 41-58]
PDF
established a new subfamily Radicinae within Lymnaeidae, but be considered position neither of Lancinae nor of extinct genera.
* subfamily Radicinae Vinarski, 2013
Cladogram
Correa et al. (2010)
examined
phylogenetic
In biology, phylogenetics () is the study of the evolutionary history of life using observable characteristics of organisms (or genes), which is known as phylogenetic inference. It infers the relationship among organisms based on empirical dat ...
relationships among 50 taxa of this family using a supermatrix approach (concatenation of the
16S,
internal transcribed spacer
Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) is the spacer DNA situated between the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and large-subunit rRNA genes in the chromosome or the corresponding transcribed region in the polycistronic rRNA precursor transcript.
...
s ITS1 and ITS2 genes) involving both
maximum likelihood
In statistics, maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is a method of estimating the parameters of an assumed probability distribution, given some observed data. This is achieved by maximizing a likelihood function so that, under the assumed stati ...
and
Bayesian inference
Bayesian inference ( or ) is a method of statistical inference in which Bayes' theorem is used to calculate a probability of a hypothesis, given prior evidence, and update it as more information becomes available. Fundamentally, Bayesian infer ...
.
Her phylogenetic analysis demonstrates the existence of three deep
clades
In biology, a clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that is composed of a common ancestor and all of its descendants. Clades are the fundamental unit of cladistics, a modern approach to taxonomy ...
of Lymnaeidae representing the main geographic origin of species (America, Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific region).
It demonstrates that the nomenclature of most genera in the Lymnaeidae does not reflect evolutionary relationships.
A cladogram based on sequences of
16S,
internal transcribed spacer
Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) is the spacer DNA situated between the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and large-subunit rRNA genes in the chromosome or the corresponding transcribed region in the polycistronic rRNA precursor transcript.
...
s ITS1 and ITS2 genes showing phylogenic relations of Lymnaeidae by Correa et al. (2010):
The nomenclature of genera has been one of the most confusing issues in the Lymnaeidae systematics. Most genus names are not fixed and are based more on phenotypic resemblances than on sound evolutionary and phylogenetic considerations.
For instance, a single genus in Lymnaeidae was recognized by Walter (1968), two by Hubendick (1951),
and up to 34 genera by others.
Results by Correa et al. (2010)
indicate that genera in Lymnaeidae do not reflect phylogenetic relationships, to the notable exception of ''
Radix
In a positional numeral system, the radix (radices) or base is the number of unique digits, including the digit zero, used to represent numbers. For example, for the decimal system (the most common system in use today) the radix is ten, becaus ...
'' (including ''
Radix natalensis'').
The type species of ''Lymnaea'' is ''
Lymnaea stagnalis
''Lymnaea stagnalis'', common name, better known as the great pond snail, is a species of large air-breathing freshwater snail, an Aquatic animal, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family (biology), family Lymnaeidae. The great pond sn ...
'' Linnaeus, 1758; the type species of ''
Stagnicola
''Stagnicola'' can refer to:
* ''Stagnicola'' (fungus), a fungus genus
* ''Stagnicola'' (gastropod), a freshwater snail genus
{{Genus disambiguation ...
'' Jeffreys, 1830 is ''
Stagnicola palustris
''Stagnicola palustris'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic animal, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.
MolluscaBase eds. (2023). MolluscaBase. Stagnicola palustris (O. F. Mülle ...
'' (= ''Lymnaea palustris''); and the type species of ''
Omphiscola'' Rafinesque, 1819 is ''
Omphiscola glabra
''Omphiscola glabra'', commonly known as the pond mud snail, is a species of small to medium-size, air-breathing, freshwater snail, an Aquatic animal, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Lymnaeidae.Glöer P. (2002). Überfamilie Lym ...
''.
However, it is clear that these three species belong to the same clade (C2) and that ''Lymnaea'' is not a
monophyletic
In biological cladistics for the classification of organisms, monophyly is the condition of a taxonomic grouping being a clade – that is, a grouping of organisms which meets these criteria:
# the grouping contains its own most recent co ...
group.
Correa et al. (2010)
proposed that species of clade C2 should all be called ''Lymnaea'', according to the
principle of priority
Priority is a principle in Taxonomy (biology), biological taxonomy by which a valid scientific name is established based on the oldest available name. It is a decisive rule in Botanical nomenclature, botanical and zoological nomenclature to recogn ...
of the
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is a widely accepted Convention (norm), convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific name, scientific naming of organisms treated as animals. It is also informally known as the I ...
(ICZN).
By extension, ''Stagnicola'' should not be used to name species in clade C1a since the type species belongs to clade C2.
Meier-Brook & Bargues (2002) suggested including ''
Stagnicola emarginata'', ''
Stagnicola elodes'', ''
Stagnicola catascopium'' and ''
Lymnaea occulta'' within a new genus ''
Catascopia'', while ''
Stagnicla caperata'' would belong to the genus ''
Hinkleyia'' Baker, 1928.
The phylogeny by Correa et al. (2010)
does not conflict with this nomenclature, although it would seem preferable to identify all species of clade C1a with the same name to reflect the close evolutionary relationships among these species.
''Hinkleyia'' would be the preferable name according to the ICZN.
On the other hand, at least four genera names have been used for species of clade C1b: ''Lymnaea'' Lamarck, 1799; ''
Galba
Galba ( ; born Servius Sulpicius Galba; 24 December 3 BC – 15 January AD 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for 7 months from 8 June AD 68 to 15 January 69. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne follow ...
'' Schrank, 1803; ''
Fossaria'' Westerlund, 1885; and ''
Bakerilymnaea''.
In the light of the present results, it would be preferable to unify nomenclature.
According to the ICZN, ''Lymnaea'' should be the unified name, but given that the type species belongs to clade C2, ''Galba'' could be a more appropriate name. Finally, as said above, ''Austropeplea'' Cotton, 1942 is not a monophyletic group, and employing the genus ''
Kutikina'' Ponder & Waterhouse, 1997 (one species: ''
Kutikina hispida
''Austropeplea'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P. (2015). ''Austropeplea'' Cotton, 1942. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World R ...
'') seems unjustified on the basis of the current phylogeny.
This would also be consistent with results of Puslednik et al. (2009).
It would be preferable to use ''
Bullastra'' Pfeiffer, 1839 for all species of clade C3a to fit the ICZN.
Genera
Genera in the family Lymnaeidae include:
subfamily Lymnaeinae
* ''
Acella'' Haldeman, 1841
* ''
Aenigmomphiscola'' Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1981
* ''
Bulimnea'' Haldeman, 1841
* ''
Corvusiana'' Servain, 1881
- probably a subgenus of ''
Stagnicola
''Stagnicola'' can refer to:
* ''Stagnicola'' (fungus), a fungus genus
* ''Stagnicola'' (gastropod), a freshwater snail genus
{{Genus disambiguation ...
''
** subgenus ''Corvusiana'' sensu stricto
** subgenus ''Kuesterilymnaea'' Vinarski, 2003
* ''
Erinna
Erinna (; ) was an Ancient Greece, ancient Greek poet. She is best known for her long poem ''The Distaff'', a 300-line dactylic hexameter, hexameter lament for her childhood friend Baucis, who had died shortly after her marriage. A large fragm ...
'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1858
* ''
Galba
Galba ( ; born Servius Sulpicius Galba; 24 December 3 BC – 15 January AD 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for 7 months from 8 June AD 68 to 15 January 69. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne follow ...
'' Schrank, 1803
- synonym: ''
Fossaria'' Westerlund, 1885
** subgenus ''Galba'' sensu stricto
** subgenus ''Bakerilymnaea'' Weyrauch, 1964
** subgenus ''Sibirigalba'' Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1985
* ''
Hinkleyia'' F. C. Baker, 1928
* ''
Ladislavella'' B. Dybowski, 1913
- synonym: ''
Catascopia'' Meier-Brook & Bargues, 2002
** subgenus ''Lymnaea'' sensu stricto
** subgenus ''Kazakhlymnaea'' Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1984
* ''
Lymnaea
''Lymnaea'' is a genus of small to large-sized air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Lymnaeinae of the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2013). Lymnaea Lamarck, 1799. ...
'' Lamarck, 1799 - type genus of the family Lymnaeidae
* ''
Omphiscola'' Rafinesque, 1819
* ''
Pseudoisidora'' Thiele, 1931
** subgenus ''Pseudoisidora'' sensu stricto
** subgenus ''Pseudobulinus'' Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1993
* ''
Pseudosuccinea'' F. C. Baker, 1908
* ''
Sphaerogalba'' Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1985
- possibly a synonym of ''Bakerilymnaea''
* ''
Stagnicola
''Stagnicola'' can refer to:
* ''Stagnicola'' (fungus), a fungus genus
* ''Stagnicola'' (gastropod), a freshwater snail genus
{{Genus disambiguation ...
'' Leach in Jeffreys, 1830
* ''
Walhiana'' Servain, 1881
- probably a subgenus of ''
Stagnicola
''Stagnicola'' can refer to:
* ''Stagnicola'' (fungus), a fungus genus
* ''Stagnicola'' (gastropod), a freshwater snail genus
{{Genus disambiguation ...
''
* ''
Walterigalba'' Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1985
- probably a subgenus of ''
Hinkleyia''
;Genera brought into synonymy:
* ''Catascopia'' Meier-Brook & Bargues, 2002: synonym of ''
Ladislavella'' B. Dybowski, 1913
* ''Fossaria'' Westerlund, 1885: synonym of ''
Galba
Galba ( ; born Servius Sulpicius Galba; 24 December 3 BC – 15 January AD 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for 7 months from 8 June AD 68 to 15 January 69. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne follow ...
'' Schrank, 1803
* ''Limnaea'': synonym of ''
Lymnaea
''Lymnaea'' is a genus of small to large-sized air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Lymnaeinae of the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2013). Lymnaea Lamarck, 1799. ...
'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Limneus'' Sandberger, 1875: synonym of ''
Lymnaea
''Lymnaea'' is a genus of small to large-sized air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Lymnaeinae of the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2013). Lymnaea Lamarck, 1799. ...
'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Limneus'' auct.: synonym of ''
Lymnaea
''Lymnaea'' is a genus of small to large-sized air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Lymnaeinae of the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2013). Lymnaea Lamarck, 1799. ...
'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Limnophysa'' Fitzinger, 1833: synonym of ''
Stagnicola
''Stagnicola'' can refer to:
* ''Stagnicola'' (fungus), a fungus genus
* ''Stagnicola'' (gastropod), a freshwater snail genus
{{Genus disambiguation ...
'' Jeffreys, 1830
* ''Lymnaeus'': synonym of ''
Lymnaea
''Lymnaea'' is a genus of small to large-sized air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Lymnaeinae of the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2013). Lymnaea Lamarck, 1799. ...
'' Lamarck, 1799
* ''Nasonia'' F. C. Baker, 1928: synonym of ''Galba (Bakerilymnaea)'' Weyrauch, 1964 represented as ''
Galba
Galba ( ; born Servius Sulpicius Galba; 24 December 3 BC – 15 January AD 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for 7 months from 8 June AD 68 to 15 January 69. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne follow ...
'' Schrank, 1803
* ''Truncatuliana'' Servain, 1881: synonym of ''
Galba
Galba ( ; born Servius Sulpicius Galba; 24 December 3 BC – 15 January AD 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for 7 months from 8 June AD 68 to 15 January 69. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne follow ...
'' Schrank, 1803
* ''Walterlymnaea'' Starobogatov & Budnikova, 1976: synonym of ''
Ladislavella'' B. Dybowski, 1913
subfamily Amphipepleinae Pini, 1877 (synonym: Radicinae Vinarski, 2013)
* ''
Austropeplea
''Austropeplea'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P. (2015). ''Austropeplea'' Cotton, 1942. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World R ...
'' B. C. Cotton, 1942
- synonym: ''Kutikina'' Ponder & Waterhouse, 1997 (there was one species ''
Kutikina hispida
''Austropeplea'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P. (2015). ''Austropeplea'' Cotton, 1942. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World R ...
'').
* ''
Bullastra'' Bergh, 1901
* ''
Lantzia'' Jousseaume, 1872
* ''
Limnobulla'' Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1985
* ''
Myxas'' G. B. Sowerby, 1822
* ''
Orientogalba'' Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1985
* ''
Pacifimyxas'' Kruglov & Starobogatov, 1985
* ''
Pectinidens'' Pilsbry, 1911
* ''
Radix
In a positional numeral system, the radix (radices) or base is the number of unique digits, including the digit zero, used to represent numbers. For example, for the decimal system (the most common system in use today) the radix is ten, becaus ...
'' Montfort, 1810
- type genus of the subfamily Radicinae
** subgenus ''Radix'' sensu stricto
** subgenus ''Peregriana'' Servain, 1881
* ''
Cerasina'' Kobelt, 1880
-
taxon inquirendum
In biological classification, a ''species inquirenda'' is a species of doubtful identity requiring further investigation. The use of the term in English-language biological literature dates back to at least the early nineteenth century.
The ter ...
: maybe it is a synonym of ''Radix''
;Genera brought into synonymy:
* ''Amphipeplea'' Nilsson, 1822: synonym of ''
Myxas'' G. B. Sowerby I, 1822
* ''Auriculariana'' Servain, 1881: synonym of ''
Radix
In a positional numeral system, the radix (radices) or base is the number of unique digits, including the digit zero, used to represent numbers. For example, for the decimal system (the most common system in use today) the radix is ten, becaus ...
'' Montfort, 1810
* ''Cyclolimnaea'' Dall, 1905: synonym of ''
Myxas'' G. B. Sowerby I, 1822
* ''Gulnaria'' Turton, 1831: synonym of ''
Radix
In a positional numeral system, the radix (radices) or base is the number of unique digits, including the digit zero, used to represent numbers. For example, for the decimal system (the most common system in use today) the radix is ten, becaus ...
'' Montfort, 1810
* ''Kutikina'' Ponder & Waterhouse, 1997: synonym of ''
Austropeplea
''Austropeplea'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P. (2015). ''Austropeplea'' Cotton, 1942. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World R ...
'' Cotton, 1942
* ''Neritostoma'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1855: synonym of ''
Radix
In a positional numeral system, the radix (radices) or base is the number of unique digits, including the digit zero, used to represent numbers. For example, for the decimal system (the most common system in use today) the radix is ten, becaus ...
'' Montfort, 1810
subfamily Lancinae

* ''
Idaholanx'' Clark, Campbell & Lydeard, 2017 - with the only species ''
Idaholanx fresti'' Clark, Campbell & Lydeard, 2017
* ''
Lanx'' Clessin, 1880 - type genus of the subfamily Lancinae
† subfamily Scalaxinae
* ''
Scalaxis'' Pilsbry, 1909 - type genus of the subfamily Scalaxinae
† subfamily Valencieniinae
* † ''
Provalenciennesia'' Gorjanović-Kramberger, 1923
* † ''
Valenciennius'' Rousseau, 1842 - type genus of the subfamily Valencieniinae
;Genera brought into synonymy:
* † ''Provalenciennius'' Gorjanović-Kramberger, 1923: synonym of † ''Provalenciennesia'' Gorjanović-Kramberger, 1923
* † ''Valenciennesia'' Fischer, 1859: synonym of † ''Valenciennius'' Rousseau, 1842
subfamily ?
* ''
Adelinella'' Wenz, 1922
* † ''
Boskovicia'' Brusina, 1894
* † ''
Clivunella'' Katzer, 1918
* † ''
Corymbina'' Bulowski, 1892
* ''
Fisherola'' Hannibal, 1912
* ''
Glacilimnea'' Iredale, 1943
* † ''
Hiscerus'' Gorjanović-Kramberger, 1923
* ''
Peplimnea'' Iredale, 1943
* ''
Simlimnea'' Iredale, 1943
* † ''
Undulotheca'' Gorjanović-Kramberger, 1923
* † ''
Velutinopsis'' Sandberger, 1875
* † ''
Zagrabica'' Brusina, 1884
Distribution
Lymnaeidae snails occur worldwide,
however, most species occur in the
Palearctic
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is a biogeographic realm of the Earth, the largest of eight. Confined almost entirely to the Eastern Hemisphere, it stretches across Europe and Asia, north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa.
Th ...
and
Nearctic
The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface.
The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America ...
regions.
An unidentified fragmentary lymnaeid from deposits of the
Meyer Desert Formation (reported in 2003) was the first
freshwater snail
Freshwater snails are gastropod mollusks that 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 t ...
recorded from
Antarctica
Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...
.
Description
This family exhibits a great diversity in
shell
Shell may refer to:
Architecture and design
* Shell (structure), a thin structure
** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses
Science Biology
* Seashell, a hard outer layer of a marine ani ...
morphology but extremely homogeneous anatomical traits.
Diversity of shell morphology is linked to substantial eco-
phenotypic plasticity
Phenotypic plasticity refers to some of the changes in an organism's behavior, morphology and physiology in response to a unique environment. Fundamental to the way in which organisms cope with environmental variation, phenotypic plasticity encompa ...
.
Hubendick (1951)
[Hubendick B. (1951). "Recent Lymnaeidae, their variation, morphology, taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution". ''Kungl Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar'' 3: 1-223.] illustrated this point by compiling up to 1143 species names, a large number of which he
synonymized.
In contrast, the
anatomy of their reproductive tracts (including prostate, penis and preputium) is extremely homogeneous.
Immunological
Immunology is a branch of biology and medicine that covers the study of immune systems in all organisms.
Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and disease ...
,
cytogenetical, enzyme
electrophoresis
Electrophoresis is the motion of charged dispersed particles or dissolved charged molecules relative to a fluid under the influence of a spatially uniform electric field. As a rule, these are zwitterions with a positive or negative net ch ...
studies, and DNA-based approaches have demonstrated extensive
homoplasy
Homoplasy, in biology and phylogenetics, is the term used to describe a feature that has been gained or lost independently in separate lineages over the course of evolution. This is different from homology, which is the term used to characterize ...
in anatomical characters.
Ecology
Lymnaeidae are of major medical and
veterinary
Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both ...
importance since they act as
vectors of parasites (
helminths
Parasitic worms, also known as helminths, are a polyphyletic group of large macroparasites; adults can generally be seen with the naked eye. Many are intestinal worms that are soil-transmitted and infect the gastrointestinal tract. Other par ...
, mainly
trematodes
Trematoda is a class of flatworms known as trematodes, and commonly as flukes. They are obligate internal parasites with a complex life cycle requiring at least two hosts. The intermediate host, in which asexual reproduction occurs, is a moll ...
, e.g., ''
Fasciola
''Fasciola'', commonly known as the liver fluke, is a genus of parasitic trematodes. There are three species within the genus ''Fasciola'': ''Fasciola nyanzae,'' ''Fasciola'' ''hepatica'' and ''Fasciola'' ''gigantica''. ''Fasciola hepatica'' an ...
'' liver flukes) that severely affect human populations and livestock, and cause important
economic loss
Economic loss is a technical terminology, term of art which refers to financial loss and damage suffered by a person which is seen only on a balance sheet and not as physical injury to person or property. There is a fundamental distinction between ...
es.
Lymnaeids serve as intermediate hosts of at least 71 trematode species distributed among 13 families, including some species of
Schistosomatidae
Schistosomatidae is a family of digenetic trematodes with complex parasitic life cycles. Immature developmental stages of schistosomes are found in molluscs and adults occur in vertebrates. The best studied group, the blood flukes of the genu ...
and
Echinostomatidae
Echinostomatidae is a family of trematodes in the order Plagiorchiida, first described in 1899.Fuhrmann, O. (1928). ''Zweite Klasse des Cladus Platyhelminthes: Trematoda''. Berlin & Leipzig: Kükenthal's Handbuch der Zoologie.
Subdivisions
The ...
, with implications for human health, and ''
Paramphistomum daubneyi'', which is of veterinary interest.
The most emblematic case of parasite transmitted by lymnaeids is ''
Fasciola hepatica
''Fasciola hepatica'', also known as the common liver fluke or sheep liver fluke, is a parasitism, parasitic trematode (fluke (flatworm), fluke or flatworm, a type of helminth) of the class (biology), class Trematoda, phylum Platyhelminthes. It ...
'' (Digenea: Fasciolidae), the agent of
fascioliasis
Fasciolosis is a parasitic worm infection caused by the common liver fluke ''Fasciola hepatica'' as well as by '' Fasciola gigantica''. The disease is a plant-borne trematode zoonosis, and is classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD). I ...
.
Mollusks, generally lymnaeids, are required as intermediate hosts to complete the life cycle of ''Fasciola hepatica''.
At least 20 species of Lymnaeidae have been described as potential vectors of fascioliasis.
References
This article incorporates CC-BY-2.0 text from the reference
Further reading
* Baker F. C. (1911)
"The Lymnaeidae of North and Middle America" ''Special publication of the
Chicago Academy of Sciences
Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 census, it is the third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los ...
'', 3: XVI+539 pp.
* Kruglov N. D. & Starobogatov Y. I. (1993). "Annotated and illustrated catalogue of species of the family Lymnaeidae (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Lymnaeiformes) of Palaearctic and adjacent river drainage areas. Part 1." ''Ruthenica'' 1: 65–92.
* Vinarski, V.M. (2013). One, two, or several? How many lymnaeid genera are there?. Ruthenica. 23(1): 41-58
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Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque