Biomphalaria pfeifferi | |
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Drawing of apical, apertural and umbilical view of the shell of Biomphalaria pfeifferi. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Superorder: | Hygrophila |
Family: | Planorbidae |
Genus: | Biomphalaria |
Species: | B. pfeifferi
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Binomial name | |
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,[2] because of transferring the disease schistosomiasis.[3]
Biomphalaria pfeifferi is an African species. It has recently expanded its native range.[2]
Distribution of Biomphalaria pfeifferi include:
The type locality is Umgani-Valley, Natal, South Africa[1] (in the times of the description it was the British Colony of Natal).
A cladogram showing phylogenic relations of species in the genus Biomphalaria:[5]
Biomphalaria |
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B. pfeifferi is hermaphroditic, and genetic analyses performed both at the family and population levels indicate high self-fertilization rates.[6] However, B. pfeifferi exhibits only a low level of inbreeding depression.[6]
Biomphalaria pfeifferi can survive up to 16 hours in anaerobic water using lactic acid fermentation.[7]
In Kenya, B. pfeifferi is positively associated with the common blue water-lily Nymphaea caerulea (the two species occur together).[3]
Parasites of Biomphalaria pfeifferi include the following 11 species found in Tanzania:[8]
In Kenya, releasing the edible American crayfish Procambarus clarkii as an introduced species has helped eliminate the mollusc, which it feeds on, as well as provided a new source of food and income,[3][10] but may also be impacting the environment by reducing the amount of native aquatic plants.[11]
The seeds of the tree Balanites aegyptiaca have a molluscicide effect on Biomphalaria pfeifferi.[12]
Substance | Route | LC50 | Reference |
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Powder of crude kernels of Balanites aegyptiaca | immersion(?) | 60 ppm | [12] |
Acetone extract of powder of the kernels of Balanites aegyptiaca | immersion(?) | 172,40 ppm | [12] |
Ethanol extract of the powder of kernels of Balanites aegyptiaca | immersion(?) | 84,15 ppm | [12] |
Ethanolic extract of the fruits of Dalbergia sissoo (family Leguminosae) exhibited molluscicidal effect against eggs of Biomphalaria pfeifferi.[13]