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.

Biomphalaria alexandrina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Hygrophila
Superfamily:	Planorboidea
Family:	Planorbidae
Subfamily:	Planorbinae
Tribe:	Biomphalariini
Genus:	Biomphalaria
Species:	B. alexandrina
Binomial name
Biomphalaria alexandrina

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

Biomphalaria stanleyi     Biomphalaria pfeifferi       Biomphalaria camerunensis     Nilotic species complex       Biomphalaria sudanica     Biomphalaria choanomphala       Biomphalaria alexandrina       Biomphalaria smithi         Biomphalaria glabrata           Biomphalaria straminea complex     Biomphalaria kuhniana     Biomphalaria straminea         Biomphalaria straminea     Biomphalaria intermedia           Biomphalaria amazonica     Biomphalaria sp.           Biomphalaria tenagophila     Biomphalaria occidentalis             Biomphalaria prona     Biomphalaria andecola       Biomphalaria sp. (? Biomphalaria havanensis)               Biomphalaria sp. (? Biomphalaria havanensis)     Biomphalaria temascalensis       Biomphalaria obstructa         Biomphalaria helophila       Biomphalaria peregrina       Biomphalaria schrammi

References

1. Bakry, F. A. (2009). "Genetic Variation Between Biomphalaria Alexandrina and Biomphalaria Glabrata Snails and Their Infection with Egyptian Strain of Schistosoma Mansoni" (PDF). Journal of Applied Sciences Research. 5 (9): 1142–1148.
2. 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 (2): 569–582. PMID 9707685.
3. Dejong, R. J.; Morgan, J. A.; Paraense, W. L.; Pointier, J. P.; Amarista, M.; Ayeh-Kumi, P. F.; Babiker, A.; Barbosa, C. S.; Brémond, P.; Pedro Canese, A.; De Souza, C. P.; Dominguez, C.; File, S.; Gutierrez, A.; Incani, R. N.; Kawano, T.; Kazibwe, F.; Kpikpi, J.; Lwambo, N. J.; Mimpfoundi, R.; Njiokou, F.; Noël Poda, J.; Sene, M.; Velásquez, L. E.; Yong, M.; Adema, C. M.; Hofkin, B. V.; Mkoji, G. M.; Loker, E. S. (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 (12): 2225–2239. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a003769. PMID 11719572.

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.