Confirmation that the North American ancylid Ferrissia fragilis (Tryon, 1863) is a cryptic invader of European and East Asian freshwater ecosystems

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The authors present results that indicate that multiple cryptic intercontinental invasions involving New World ancylid lineages are ongoing and that the North American species Ferrissia fragilis may be on its way to achieving a near-cosmopolitan distribution in temperate and tropical freshwater pond ecosystems. It is likely that basic life history attributes, including small body size, hermaphroditism, ability to live in stagnant water, and ability to aestivate underlay its pronounced invasiveness, though it is noteworthy that the first German, Swedish, and British records were from artificial habitats (aquaria and botanical gardens). The potential presence of multiple intercontinental alien cryptic invaders complicates the study of an already challenging freshwater snail family. However, it is hoped that the increasing use of molecular phylogenetic approaches will significantly enhance our understanding of ancylid systematics, ecology, and invasion history.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Invertebrates

Citation (CSE style, mostly): Walther AC, Lee T, Burch JB, Ó Foighil D. 2006. Confirmation that the North American ancylid Ferrissia fragilis (Tryon, 1863) is a cryptic invader of European and East Asian freshwater ecosystems. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 72(3):318-321. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/mollus/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/mollus/eyl009.