Spawning and hatching of the edible snail Pomacea patula (Baker 1922) (Gastropoda: Ampullaridae) in the laboratory

摘要

The "apple snail" Pomacea patula is an edible freshwater mollusk originating from Catemaco Lake, in Veracruz, Mexico, where it is considered to be a very important fishery resource (Naranjo-Garcia and Garcia-Cubas 1985). However, Gonzalez-Soriano et al. (1997) mentioned that natural populations of this species in the states located next to the Gulf of Mexico, have been depleted mainly by over-exploitation and, also, because of environmental degradation and pollution caused by pesticides and detergents. P. patula is also found in the mid-coast of the Mexican Pacific since the snail was introduced by the Fisheries Department, almost 30 years ago (Jaime-Vargas 1992). Although it is mainly consumed by local people, reliable data about its commercial exploitation is non-existent.