Bloodfluke Planorb
Biomphalaria glabrata
The bloodfluke planorb is a small freshwater snail found in quiet ponds, marshes, drainage ditches, and slow-moving tropical waters. It glides over submerged plants and surfaces while scraping algae, decaying plant matter, and biofilm with its radula. This air-breathing snail can survive in relatively low-oxygen water by surfacing to breathe. It is notable as an intermediate host for blood flukes that can cause schistosomiasis in people and other mammals.
- Type
- Shell
- Conservation status
- NE