Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Five views of a shell of Pomacea canaliculata, Shell diameter 8 cm
Eggs of Pomacea canaliculata, scale bar in cm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomacea_canaliculata
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By Casey Ferrand
Snail causes problems for local waterways
Invasive snail laying toxic eggs
UPDATED 6:24 PM CDT Oct 01, 2013
METAIRIE, La. ?...
Researchers said they are channeled apple snail eggs, which carry a toxin that can cause serious health issues. The species is native to Central and South America; however, they have made their way into local waterways.
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Dr. Martin O'Connell, Director of the Nekton Research Laboratory at the University of New Orlean's Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, said it's likely the snails were introduced to the area by being released from someone's aquarium.
"We're seeing the numbers increase. They're popping up in more places. We thought it had been confined to the Westbank, but now the North Shore, City Park and West Esplanade canal, O'Connell said. "They lay bright pink eggs outside the water to keep them from predators in the water, and they look like a toy, so you would be concerned that a child, as children do, poke at things and stick it on a stick and get that in your mouth. It could be an issue."
O'Connell said the eggs are coated in a slime-like substance and carry a harmful parasite called rat lungworm.
"It's an intermediate host with a rat, and if humans get this into their bodies, possibly, it could get into their brains and cause a lot of problems, maybe even coma, maybe even death," O'Connell said.
The adult snails can grow to the size of a human fist and pose a serious threat to the health of rivers, lakes and wetlands because they feed heavily on aquatic plants and reproduce rapidly.
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