Marisa cornuarietis
3090620
218975450
2008-06-13T00:44:26Z
Alaibot
1324179
Robot: sorting stub (based on existing categorisation)
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Marisa cornuarietis''
| image = Marisa cornuarietis.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Mollusc|Mollusca]]
| classis = [[Gastropod|Gastropoda]]
| ordo = [[Mesogastropoda]]
| subordo = [[Prosobranchia]]
| familia = [[Ampullariidae]]
| genus = ''[[Marisa]]''
| species = '''''M. cornuarietis'''''
| binomial = ''Marisa cornuarietis''
}}
'''''Marisa cornuarietis''''' is a [[species]] of freshwater [[snail]] with an [[Operculum (gastropod)|operculum]], an [[aquatic animal|aquatic]] [[gastropod]] [[mollusk]] in the family [[Ampullariidae]] the apple snail family.
This snail lays eggs below the waterline and eats aquatic plants, algae, and dead fish and snails. It is a popular species in the [[aquarium]] trade.
Although ''Marisa'' snails superficially resemble ram's horn snails or ramshorn snails because of the shape of their shells, they are not at all closely related to the snails in that family.
''Marisa cornuarietis'' is one of about 120 species belonging to the Ampullariidae family, also known as the [[apple snail]] family (and sometimes called Pilidae). These apple snails are commonly sold in pet stores under the misleading name of "giant ramshorn snail" or "Columbian ramshorn snail".
Traditionally ''Marisa cornuarietis'' are purchased intentionally from pet stores, while true [[ramshorn snail]]s (family [[Planorbidae]]) are usually considered pests purchased accidentally clinging to leaves of aquatic plants. These apple snails grow to be much larger than ramshorn snails, and they consume large amounts of plant matter. That means they are not suitable for an aquarium where plant growth is being encouraged.
== Use as biological control ==
Marisa cornuarietis are used as biological control to reduce the number of ''[[Biomphalaria]]'', which are intermediate hosts to the disease [[Schistosomiasis]]. Schistosoma larvae (cercariae), namely of ''[[Schistosoma haematobium]]'', enter and develop inside the ''Biomphlaria'', to form miracidium which can penetrate through skin to enter the human body.
''Marisa cornuarietis'' compete with these vectors (''Biomphalaria'') for food and eat its eggs, thereby effectively reducing the chances of ''Schistosomia'' being spread.
==References==
[http://www.applesnail.net/content/species/marisa_cornuarietis.htm The Apple Snail Website]
== External links==
* [http://www.pesticideinfo.org/List_AquireAll.jsp?Species=903&Effect= Pesticides Database - Chemical Toxicity Studies]
{{Ampullariidae-stub}}
[[Category:Ampullaridae]]