Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 8110535
Spike-topped Apple Snail
Pomacea diffusaAlso known as Mystery Snail, Bridgesii Apple Snail, Spike-Topped Mystery Snail
Spike-topped apple snails feature distinctively square-shouldered shells with sharp, ninety-degree spires along their whorls. Equipped with both gills and an extendable siphon functioning as a lung, they easily navigate oxygen-poor freshwater habitats across South America and introduced aquariums worldwide. Unlike several voracious relative apple snails, these peaceful scavengers primarily scrape algae and decaying vegetation from submerged surfaces without harming living aquatic plants.
AquaticFreshwaterHerbivore
Licensed reference(c) Soulkeeper, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Algae
- Biofilm
- Decaying vegetation
Predators
- Freshwater turtles
- Crayfish
- Waterfowl
ThreatsHabitat pollution, extreme drought, and invasive predators
HabitatsPonds, slow-moving streams, swamps, and freshwater aquariums
Life span1–3 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderArchitaenioglossa
- FamilyAmpullariidae
- GenusPomacea
- SpeciesPomacea diffusa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Substrate check: Look along submerged branches or glass where they graze on soft algae and biofilm using their radula.
- Egg clusters: Inspect emergent vegetation above the waterline for pale, honeycomb-like egg masses.
Close Relative (c) Ganjar Cahyadi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ganjar Cahyadi · 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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