Biomphalaria alexandrina
Biomphalaria alexandrina is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.
Distribution
This species occur in Egypt
Habitat
Biomphalaria alexandrina lives in freshwater, for example in irrigation canals.
Feeding habits
In captivity, Biomphalaria alexandrina can be fed on boiled leaves of lettuce.[1]
Parasites
Biomphalaria alexandrina serves as an intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni
Hybrid
There is a known hybrid Biomphalaria glabrata × Biomphalaria alexandrina, from Egypt.[2]
Phylogeny
A cladogram showing phylogenic relations of species in the genus Biomphalaria:[3]
Biomphalaria |
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Biomphalaria straminea complex |
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Biomphalaria straminea
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Biomphalaria intermedia
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Biomphalaria amazonica
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Biomphalaria sp.
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Biomphalaria helophila
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Biomphalaria peregrina
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Biomphalaria schrammi
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References
- ^ Bakry F. A. (2009) "Genetic Varation Between Biomphalaria Alexandrina and Biomphalaria Glabrata Snails and Their Infection with Egyptian Strain of Schistosoma Mansoni". Journal of Applied Sciences Research 5(9): 1142-1148. PDF
- ^ Yousif F., Ibrahim A., Abdel-Kader A., El-Bardicy S. (1998) "Invasion of the Nile Valley in Egypt by a hybrid of Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria alexandrina, snail vectors of Schistosoma mansoni. Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 28: 569–582. PubMed
- ^ DeJong R. J., Morgan J. A. T., Paraense W. L., Pointier J.-P., Amarista M., Ayeh-Kumi P. F. K., Babiker A., Barbosa C. S., Brémond P., Canese A., de Souza C. P., Dominguez C., File S., Gutierrez A., Incani R. N., Kawano T., Kazibwe F., Kpikpi J., Lwambo N. J. S., Mimpfoundi R., Njiokou F., Poda J. N., Sene M., Velásquez L. E., Yong M., Adema C. M., Hofkin B. V., Mkoji G. M. & Loker E. S. (December 2001) "Evolutionary relationships and biogeography of Biomphalaria (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) with implications regarding its role as host of the human bloodfluke, Schistosoma mansoni". Molecular Biology and Evolution 18: 2225–2239. PubMed, text.
Further reading
- Kamel E. G. (1984) "The egg mass and growth rate of Biomphalaria alexandrina under laboratory conditions". Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 14(2): 377-384.