Biomphalaria alexandrina is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.
Distribution
This species occur in Egypt
Habitat
Biomphalaria alexandrina lives in freshwater, for example in irrigation canals.
Feeding habits
In captivity, Biomphalaria alexandrina can be fed on boiled leaves of lettuce.[1]
Parasites
Biomphalaria alexandrina serves as an intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni
Hybrid
There is a known hybrid Biomphalaria glabrata × Biomphalaria alexandrina, from Egypt.[2]
Phylogeny
A cladogram showing phylogenic relations of species in the genus Biomphalaria:[3]
Biomphalaria Biomphalaria stanleyi
Biomphalaria pfeifferi
Biomphalaria camerunensis
Nilotic species complex
Biomphalaria sudanica
Biomphalaria choanomphala
Biomphalaria alexandrina
Biomphalaria smithi
Biomphalaria glabrata
Biomphalaria straminea complex
Biomphalaria kuhniana
Biomphalaria straminea
Biomphalaria straminea
Biomphalaria intermedia
Biomphalaria amazonica
Biomphalaria sp.
Biomphalaria tenagophila
Biomphalaria occidentalis
Biomphalaria prona
Biomphalaria andecola
Biomphalaria sp. (? Biomphalaria havanensis)
Biomphalaria sp. (? Biomphalaria havanensis)
Biomphalaria temascalensis
Biomphalaria obstructa
Biomphalaria helophila
Biomphalaria peregrina
Biomphalaria schrammi
References
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^ Bakry, F. A. (2009). "Genetic Variation Between Biomphalaria Alexandrina and Biomphalaria Glabrata Snails and Their Infection with Egyptian Strain of Schistosoma Mansoni" (PDF). Journal of Applied Sciences Research. 5 (9): 1142–1148.
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^ Yousif, F.; Ibrahim, A.; Abdel Kader, A.; El-Bardicy, S. (1998). "Invasion of the Nile Valley in Egypt by a hybrid of Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria alexandrina, snail vectors of Schistosoma mansoni". Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology. 28 (2): 569–582. PMID 9707685.
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^ Dejong, R. J.; Morgan, J. A.; Paraense, W. L.; Pointier, J. P.; Amarista, M.; Ayeh-Kumi, P. F.; Babiker, A.; Barbosa, C. S.; Brémond, P.; Pedro Canese, A.; De Souza, C. P.; Dominguez, C.; File, S.; Gutierrez, A.; Incani, R. N.; Kawano, T.; Kazibwe, F.; Kpikpi, J.; Lwambo, N. J.; Mimpfoundi, R.; Njiokou, F.; Noël Poda, J.; Sene, M.; Velásquez, L. E.; Yong, M.; Adema, C. M.; Hofkin, B. V.; Mkoji, G. M.; Loker, E. S. (2001). "Evolutionary relationships and biogeography of Biomphalaria (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) with implications regarding its role as host of the human bloodfluke, Schistosoma mansoni". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 18 (12): 2225–2239. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a003769. PMID 11719572.