Oh, the shell doesn’t.
An invasive snail species known to be deadly to humans and dangerous to marine life has crept into North Carolina.
The poisonous Apple Snail was found last month in multiple clusters along the Lumber River in Lumberton, a town 30 miles south of Fayetteville, the state Wildlife Resources Commission announced Monday.
“Native to South America, this is the first population of Apple Snails in North Carolina,” NCWRC said in a statement.
Aquatic snails often carry parasites, which pose a deadly threat to humans who come into contact with invasive gastropods.
If eaten raw or undercooked by people or animals, Apple Snails can transmit rat lungworms that invade the brain, which can also cause meningitis.
Snail egg masses also contain toxins that can cause skin and eye rashes.
Apple snails were found along the Lumber River in North Carolina last month. NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Apple snails also wreak havoc on area ecosystems — their grazing habits can destroy plants used by many native aquatic species.
Snails have also been seen eating amphibian eggs.
Invasive species are easy to identify. They can grow up to 6 inches in size – which is much larger than any native North Carolina aquatic snail – and they deposit large clusters of pink eggs on tree trunks and other vegetation above the waterline of fresh river reservoirs.
Invasive aquatic species pose a threat to humans and river ecosystems. NC Wildlife Resources Commission
A clutch of eggs can contain thousands of individual eggs.
“Female snails lay eggs as often as once a week, which allows populations to grow and spread quickly once established,” NCWRC warns.
The species has already established itself in Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Apple snails can grow up to 6 inches in size. NC Wildlife Resources Commission
North Carolinians are encouraged to report any sightings of invasive snails to the NCWRC before destroying egg masses or submerging them in water.
Adult snails also need to be crushed or frozen to death.
However, everyone is warned not to touch Apple Snails with their exposed skin.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
