Singapore
June 2014
Ampullariidae, common name the apple snails, is a family of large freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks with a gill and an operculum. They are unusual because they have both a gill and a lung, the mantle cavity being divided in order to separate the two types of respiratory structures. This adaptation allows these snails to be amphibious.
Apple snails are exceptionally well adapted to tropical regions characterized by periods of drought alternating with periods of high rainfall. This adaptation is reflected in their life style; they are moderately amphibious. They have an operculum which enables the snail to seal the shell entrance to prevent drying out while they are buried in the mud during dry periods.
Several apple snail genera (Pomacea, Pila and Asolene/Pomella) deposit eggs above the waterline in calcareous clutches. This remarkable strategy of aquatic snails protects the eggs against predation by fish and other aquatic inhabitants.
Clutches of apple snail eggs in Sengkang Park and Tampines Eco Green...
Apple snails inhabit various ecosystems: ponds, swamps and rivers. Although they occasionally leave the water, they spend most of their time under water.
More about the apple snails...
(Source : The Apple Snail Website)
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