Florida Apple Snail
ExploreInvertebrate
Florida Apple Snail
pomacea paludosa
The Florida Apple Snail is a big, colorful snail that loves to glide through the water! Kids can spot them in swamps and ponds as they munch on aquatic plants.
Habitat: Freshwater lakes, ponds, and swamps in Florida.
Appearance
The Florida Apple Snail has a large, globular, spiral shell, typically olive-green to yellow-brown, often with darker bands. Its shell opening is wide and rounded, sealed by a horny lid called an operculum. Unlike many pond snails, its shell coils to the right.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumMolluscaClassGastropodaOrderArchitaenioglossaFamilyAmpullariidaeGenusPomacea
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Florida Apple Snails are a favorite snack for the endangered Snail Kite, a bird with a hooked beak!
Their bright pink eggs, laid above water, are actually toxic to many predators!
These snails can "hibernate" buried in mud for months during dry seasons to survive.
They use a special tongue covered in tiny, sharp teeth, called a radula, to scrape up food.
Special abilities
Ability
Dual Respiration
Florida Apple Snails can breathe both underwater with a gill and air using a lung, allowing them to survive varying water conditions.
Ability
Above-Water Nursery
This snail lays its bright pink egg clutches on emergent vegetation, keeping them safe from most aquatic predators.
Ability
Protective Door
It has a hard operculum that completely seals its shell, providing protection from predators and preventing drying out during droughts.
Measurements & details
- Shell Diameter
- 5 cm
- Lifespan
- 2 years
- Clutch Size Eggs
- 500
Diet & Feeding
These snails are plant-eaters, grazing on various aquatic vegetation and algae in their watery homes.
Primary Foods
- algae
- submerged aquatic plants
- decaying plant matter
- detritus
Foraging Method
- Grazing
Ecological connections
eaten by
Snail Kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis
A specialized bird that relies almost solely on these snails.
eaten by
American Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
A common predator in their wetland habitats.
eaten by
Florida Redbelly Cooter
Pseudemys nelsoni
Freshwater turtles sometimes consume snails.
eats
Fragrant Water Lily
Nymphaea odorata
Feeds on the leaves and stems of aquatic plants.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Also known as
Florida Snail
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Florida Apple Snail?
5 cm
How long does Florida Apple Snail live?
2 years
What does Florida Apple Snail eat?
These snails are plant-eaters, grazing on various aquatic vegetation and algae in their watery homes.
Where is Florida Apple Snail usually found?
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and swamps in Florida.
How does Florida Apple Snail hunt?
Grazing
How many eggs does Florida Apple Snail lay?
500
Snap Map
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