Mystery Snails

The mystery surrounding the eponymously named Chinese and Japanese mystery snails isn't their identities (they are members of the genus Cipangopaludina) it's figuring out where they are actually located and how widespread their distribution is in the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks to anecdotal reports, researchers in the Pacific Northwest believe that Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata (aka Viviparus malleatus), or the Chinese mystery snail, and the Japanese mystery snail, Cipangopaludina are much more widespread than as been reported on the USGS NAS database. . The Center for Lakes and Reservoirs has launched an informal project to map the distribution of this snail in Oregon and Washington. Please check back for more information on this program as we get it up and running.

Chinese mystery snail - map and shell

The Chinese mystery snail is a large (up to 65mm) freshwater snail commonly found for sale for use in freshwater aquariums and garden ponds.

[images from the USGS]

Japanese mystery snail - map and shell

[images from the USGS]

The Japanese mystery snail is also a large (to 50 mm) freshwater snail commonly found in freshwater rivers and streams.

If you think you have spotted either of these snails please collect a shell, note the name of the waterbody and the lat/long or specific location name (ex. North Access Road boat launch) and contact Robyn Draheim - draheim@pdx.edu or call 503-725-4994

Sightings Not Yet Reported on USGS Map:

Oregon

Basket Slough

Washington

Medical Lake

Liberty Lake

Longview

Lakamas Lake

Green Lake

Silver Lake

Lake Doloff

Lake Josephine on Anderson Island

LINKS AND REFERENCES:

USGS NAS Website
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=1045

Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
http://nis.gsmfc.org/nis_factsheet.php?toc_id=125

Exotic Aquatics on the Move
http://www.iisgcp.org/EXOTICSP/Oriental_Mystery_Snail.htm

Report sightings to Oregon Invasive Species Hotline

Call 1-866-INVADER or 1-866-468-2337 (tollfree in Oregon)