FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE EXOTIC GASTROPOD Melanoides tuberculata IN THE STATE OF AMAPÁ (BRAZILIAN AMAZON REGION)

Abstract

This study reports the first occurrence of the invasive gastropod Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) in the state of Amapá. M. tuberculata was first detected in a lake in Praça Floriano Peixoto, a city park located in Macapá, the state capital, on May 2, 2022. The lake has a substantial amount of foliage on the banks and relatively turbid water (with a green tint). This environmental characteristic is similar to that found in existing literature. As a consequence of this detection, it can be surmised that M. tuberculata is spreading through the Amazon region – thus far, its presence was restricted to the states of Pará, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins. Due to the potential ecological and economic impact, it is considered necessary to monitor the population density of M. tuberculata in Amapá, as well as to investigate possible mitigation measures, such as the introduction of a native fish that is capable of feeding itself on this invasive species.