Viviparidae, commonly called river snails, are a family of freshwater snails with gills and a protective lid (operculum). Their family tree is complex, and genetic evidence suggesting some species in this family don't fit neatly into traditional groups. These snails are native lakes and rivers across Europe, Asia, and parts of North America. Some, like Cipangopaludina japonica, have become invasive thanks to their ability to adapt.
Distribution This family occurs nearly worldwide in temperate and tropical regions, other than South America.
There are two genera of Viviparidae in Africa: Bellamya and Neothauma.
The oldest known vivparid is Viviparus langtonensis from the Middle Jurassic of England. The oldest records from the Southern Hemisphere is from the Late Jurassic Talbragar fossil beds of Australia.
Viviparidae snails are native to freshwater spots like rivers and lakes across Europe, Asia, and parts of North America, and they've spread out widely in places like Russia and China. Cipangopaludina japonica has become invasive in North America.
Taxonomy and phylogeny The family Viviparidae contains 3 subfamilies (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005): Viviparinae Gray, 1847 (1833) - synonyms: Paludinidae Fitzinger, 1833 (inv.); Kosoviinae Atanackovic, 1859 (n.a.) Bellamyinae Rohrbach, 1937 - synonym: Amuropaludinidae Starobogatov, Prozorova, Bogatov & Sayenko, 2004 (n.a.) Lioplacinae Gill, 1863 - synonym: Campelomatinae Thiele, 1929 Scientists used to group Viviparidae snails based on how they look, but with the advent of DNA research, a more complex tree has developed. Species such as Viviparus chui, Cipangopaludina chinensis, Sinotaia quadrata histrica have been reclassified based on this new data. The way the various species are related is still being studied.
Morphology and evolution Viviparidae shells seem to develop characteristics based on environmental factors such a water conditions. Cipangopaludina japonica in particular are very adaptable These snails can live anywhere from 3 to 11 years, depending on their environment.
Genera Genera within the family Viviparidae (listed beneath their subfamilies) include:
Viviparinae Gray, 1847 Type Genus: Viviparus Montfort, 1810 Galizgia Mikhaylovskiy, 1903 † Kosovia Atanacković, 1959 Rivularia Heude, 1890 Trochopaludina Starobogatov, 1985 Tulotoma Haldeman, 1840
Bellamyinae Rohrbach, 1937 Type Genus: Bellamya Jousseame, 1886 Amuropaludina Moskvicheva, 1979 Angulyagra Rao, 1931 Anulotaia Brandt, 1968 Anularya Zhang & Chen, 2015 † Apameaus Sivan, Heller & van Damme, 2006 Boganmargarya Thach, 2018 Celetaia Clench 1966 Cipangopaludina Hannibal, 1912 Eyriesia P. Fischer, 1885 Filopaludina Habe, 1964 Heterogen Annandale, 1921 Idiopoma Pilsbry, 1901 Larina Adams, 1851 Margarya Nevill, 1877 Mekongia Crosse & Fischer, 1876 Neclarina Iredale, 1943 Neothauma E. A. Smith, 1880 Notopala Cotton, 1935 Sinotaia Haas, 1939 Taia Annandale, 1918 † Temnotaia Annandale, 1919 Tchangmargarya He, 2013 Torotaia Haas, 1939 Trochotaia Brandt, 1974
Lioplacinae Gill, 1863 Campeloma Rafinesque, 1819 Lioplax Troschel, 1856
subfamily? † Albianopalin Hamilton-Bruce, Smith & Gowlett-Holmes, 2002 Siamopaludina Brandt, 1968
Genera brought into synonymy Centrapala Cotton, 1935: synonym of Larina A. Adams, 1855 Contectiana Bourguignat, 1880: synonym of Viviparus Montfort, 1810 Eularina Iredale, 1943: synonym of Larina A. Adams, 1855 subfamily † Kosoviinae Atanacković, 1959: synonym of Viviparidae Gray, 1847 Lecythoconcha Annandale, 1920: synonym of Cipangopaludina Hannibal, 1912 Metohia Popović, 1964 : (junior homonym, no replacement name available in 2014) Notopalena Iredale, 1943: synonym of Notopala Cotton, 1935 Paludina Férussac, 1812: synonym of Viviparus Montfort, 1810 Siamopaludina Brandt, 1968 : synonym of Filopaludina (Siamopaludina) Brandt, 1968 represented as Filopaludina Habe, 1964 Vivipara : synonym of Viviparus Montfort, 1810
Lifecycle Viviparidare are viviparous: they give birth to live offspring instead of laying eggs. Internal fertilization occurs, and the embryos develop within the female's brood pouch. Once mature, the offspring are released into the water as miniature versions of the adults. This method has shown to increase their chances of survival in freshwater environments. Life spans have been reported from 3 to 11 years in various species of Viviparidae, depending on environmental conditions and species type.
Fossil record Fossil records of Viviparus langtonensis show they've lived in freshwater for millions of years.
References
Further reading .
External links