Kingdom Animalia Family Planorbidae Tribe Biomphalariini Scientific name Biomphalaria pfeifferi Higher classification Biomphalaria | Superfamily Planorboidea Subfamily Planorbinae Genus Biomphalaria Phylum Mollusca Rank Species | |
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Similar Biomphalaria, Bulinus, Bulinus globosus, Bulinus truncatus, Molluscs | ||
Biomphalaria pfeifferi is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails.
Contents
This snail is a medically important pest, because of transferring the disease schistosomiasis.
Distribution
Biomphalaria pfeifferi is an African species. It has recently expanded its native range.
Distribution of Biomphalaria pfeifferi include:
The type locality is Umgani-Valley, Natal, South Africa (in the times of the description it was the British Colony of Natal).
Phylogeny
A cladogram showing phylogenic relations of species in the genus Biomphalaria:
Ecology
Biomphalaria pfeifferi can survive up to 16 hours in anaerobic water using lactic acid fermentation.
Parasites
Parasites of Biomphalaria pfeifferi include the following 11 species found in Tanzania:
Toxicology
The seeds of the tree Balanites aegyptiaca have a molluscicide effect on Biomphalaria pfeifferi.
Ethanolic extract of the fruits of Dalbergia sissoo (family Leguminosae) exhibited molluscicidal effect against eggs of Biomphalaria pfeifferi.