Chinese+Mystery+Snail+-+9

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=__General Information__= The Chinese Mystery Snail has many different names like Japanese mysterysnail, Japanese Black snail and Japanese trapdoor snail the scientific name for the Chinese Mystery Snail is //Viviparus malleatus.// The size of the shell is about two and a quarter inches. The Chinese Mystery Snail depletes some species in the ecosystem by out competing other water animals in food and recources. the shell of this snail can have 6 to 7 whorls. it is usually a light to dark olive Green.

=__Detailed Discription__= The Chinese Mystery Snail can be found in lakes, ponds, rice paddies, irrigation ditches, roadside ditches, and the slower portions of streams where there is mud. their food source are the small organisms like Zoo Plankton and phytoplankton. this Mystery Snail has a feature called the "trap door". it is a cover on the bottom of the snail to close any open acces into the shell. it is used to keep the snail safe from any harmful chemicals or water conditions. reproduction is initiated sexually.

=__Habitat and Distribution__= Obviously this organism was first spread in China. they were imported in 1852 to San Fransisco. they were normally spread on any water holding sources on boats. they were mainly brought to the U.S. as a delicacy for chinese cuisine. in the early 1900's the species began to show up in Boston and near it. in the mid 1900's the started appearing in Florida and Massachusetts.

=__Impacts__= there is really nothing positive about the Chinese Mystery Snail accept for the fact of it being an ok food source. other than that, it is pretty disgusting. they casn cary diseases and parasites. they have been known to transmit diseases to humans. they also clog screens and water ways. and last but not least, they compete for space and recources with our native snail species.

=__History__= All history has been discussed in the Habitat and Distribution section.

=__Control Measures__= There are still control methods yet to be developed. the only safe way to do it without harming other aquatic species is to biologically control them. possibly put more turtles and fish into the area of population. only then can we hope that the population of Chinese Mystery snails will decrease.

__Cited Recources__ __Aquatic Invasive Species__ 3/05/08 www.iisgcp.org/edk-12/EXOTICSP/Oriental_**Mystery**_**Snail**.htm __Aquatics on the move__ uknown date [|www.in.gov/dnr/files/chinese_mystery_snail.pdf] Mystery Snail Monotering Protocol dnr.wi.gov/org/water/swims/datasets/AIS/CMS/index.htm