Biomphalaria pfeifferi
Introduction '''''Biomphalaria pfeifferi''''' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic animal pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails.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:* Western Africa: Senegal* Eastern Africa: KenyaThe 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'':
Mating system ''B. pfeifferi'' is hermaphroditic, and genetic analyses performed both at the family and population levels indicate high self-fertilization rates. However, ''B. pfeifferi'' exhibits only a low level of inbreeding depression.
Ecology ''Biomphalaria pfeifferi'' can survive up to 16 hours in anaerobic water using lactic acid fermentation.In Kenya, ''B. pfeifferi'' is positively associated with the common blue water-lily ''Nymphaea caerulea'' (the two species occur together).=== Parasites ===Parasites of ''Biomphalaria pfeifferi'' include the following 11 species found in Tanzania:* ''Schistosoma mansoni''* undescribed clinostomatid* two species undescribed strigea* ''Cercaria porteri''* ''Cercaria blukwa''* two species of undescribed echinostome* ''Cercaria lileta''* ''Cercaria obscurior''* ''Cercaria bulla''
Control In Kenya, releasing the edible American crayfish ''Procambarus clarkii'' as an introduced species has helped eliminate the mollusc, which it feeds on, as well as provided a new source of food and income, but may also be impacting the environment by reducing the amount of native aquatic plants.The seeds of the tree ''Balanites aegyptiaca'' have a molluscicide effect on ''Biomphalaria pfeifferi''. Substance Route LC50 Reference Powder of crude kernels of ''Balanites aegyptiaca'' immersion(?) 60 ppm  Acetone extract of powder of the kernels of ''Balanites aegyptiaca'' immersion(?) 172,40 ppm  Ethanol extract of the powder of kernels of ''Balanites aegyptiaca'' immersion(?) 84,15 ppm Ethanolic extract of the fruits of ''Dalbergia sissoo'' (family Leguminosae) exhibited molluscicidal effect against eggs of ''Biomphalaria pfeifferi''.
References
Further reading * * * Wright C. A. (1963). "The freshwater gastropod mollusca of Angola". ''Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)'' '''10'''(8): 447–528.16 plates. page 455.