Exotic Invasive Pomacea maculata (Giant Apple Snail) Will Depredate Eggs of Frog and Toad Species of the Southeastern US

Authors

Jacoby Carter, US Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterFollow
Darren Johnson, Cherokee Nation Technologies
Sergio Merino, US Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Southeastern Naturalist Vol 17, No. 3

Comments

U.S. Government Work.

Abstract

Pomacea maculata (Giant Apple Snail) is a freshwater snail from South America that is an invasive species on the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain. A sister species has been shown to prey on amphibian eggs in Asia. To test whether the Giant Apple Snail will prey on amphibian eggs, we presented eggs of Lithobates palustris (Pickerel Frog), Lithobates pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog), and Anaxyrus americanus (American Toad) to Giant Apple Snails in a laboratory experiment. Giant Apple Snails ate the eggs of all 3 species.