Invertebrate
Apple Snail
Pomacea canaliculataAlso known as Golden Apple Snail, Channeled Apple Snail
Channeled apple snails thrive in shallow freshwater environments where they feed voraciously on aquatic vegetation, often devastating wetland ecosystems and agricultural crops like rice. Females lay striking, bright pink egg clusters on stems and structures above the water line to protect them from aquatic predators. Possessing both a lung and a gill, these resilient mollusks can survive periods of drought by burying themselves in mud.
InvasiveFreshwaterAquatic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyRice Plants, Aquatic Vegetation, Algae
Predators
- Snail Kite
- Limpkin
- Domestic Ducks
ThreatsEradication campaigns, water pollution, and natural predators in native range
HabitatsPonds, rice paddies, wetlands, slow-moving rivers, and agricultural canals
Life span2–5 years
Classification
- FamilyAmpullariidae
- SpeciesPomacea canaliculata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can host rat lungworm parasites; never consume raw or undercooked and wash hands after handling water.
- Why it is dangerous
- Hosts the parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis, which causes severe eosinophilic meningitis in humans if ingested raw.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by its large globe-shaped yellowish-brown shell and bright pink, rasp-like egg clutches laid above water.
- What to do
- Never consume raw or undercooked snails, and thoroughly wash hands after touching wild snails or aquarium water.
Responsible observation
- Identify Egg Mass: Look for vibrant bubblegum-pink egg clusters attached to reeds, posts, or canal walls above water.
- Prevent Spread: Avoid transporting mud, water, or aquatic plants between waterways to stop invasive hitchhikers.
- Observe Safely: Watch underwater feeding behaviors in calm shallows without touching or removing live snails.
Predator Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Court Harding, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Court Harding · cc-by
Close Relative (c) mfeaver, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by mfeaver · cc-by
Close Relative (c) mfeaver, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by mfeaver · cc-by
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