Freshwater snail fauna of Pothwar region, Pakistan
2013
Afshan, K. (Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture Univ., Rawalpindi (Pakistan). Dept. of Zoology/Biology) | Beg, M.A. (Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture Univ., Rawalpindi (Pakistan). Dept. of Zoology/Biology) | Ahmad, I. (Fish Seed Hatchery and Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Punjab Fisheries Dept.) | Ahmad, M.M. (University of Wah, Wah Cantt (Pakistan). Dept. of Biological Sciences) | Qayyum, M.
The present study was aimed to identify the freshwater snail fauna inhabiting water bodies of Pothwar region, Pakistan. A total of ten freshwater snail species were identified belonging to five families viz. Planorbidae, Physidae, Viviparidae, Lymnaeidae and Thiaridae. Ten freshwater snail species were identified based on their detailed morphometric shell characteristics. They were: Gyraulus convexiusculus (Hutton, 1849), Indoplanorbis exustus (Deshayes, 1834), Physa acuta (Draparnaud, 1805), Physa gyrina (Say, 1821), Bellamya bengalensis (Lamarck 1822), Lymnaea (P.) acuminata f. rufescens (Gray, 1820), Lymnaea (P.) luteola (Lamarck, 1822), Lymnaea (P.) acuminata f. chlamys (Benson, 1836), Lymnaea auricularia (Linnaeus, 1758) and Melanoides tuberculata (Muller, 1774). The shell morphometric data of all species were taken with the help digital vernier caliper. The distribution of freshwater snails were also monitored in winter (December-February) and summer rainy (July-September) seasons. The results revealed that freshwater snails were more prevalent in summer rainy season as compared to winter season. This study provides first detailed taxonomic account of freshwater snails species commonly present in Pothwar region along with their detail shell morphometic account. Furthermore, it would provide a road map to carry out freshwater snail fauna in different region of Pakistan.
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