First record of a wild population of the tropical snail Melanoides tuberculata in New Zealand natural waters

Abstract

The thiarid snail Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774), native to the Middle East and East Africa, is recorded from the wild in New Zealand for the first time from a geothermally influenced stream at Golden Springs, near Taupo. Introduction was most likely the result of one or more releases from tropical aquaria, although the timing of release is uncertain. Specimens were collected at temperatures of 29.0 and 30.4°C, and survival at these sites is likely dependent on the elevated stream temperatures. The possible spread of this species to other habitats, and potential effects on native thermal water communities, are discussed.

Keywords:

• Melanoides tuberculata; Thiaridae
• exotic species
• tropical aquaria
• biosecurity