Lymnaea

A pond snail ( Lymnaea stagnalis )

The genus Lymnaea is the namesake genus of the family of mud snails ( Lymnaeidae ), the superfamily Lymnaeoidea and the subfamily Lymnaeinae that are expected to subordinate water snails ( Basommatophora ) within the lung snails ( Pulmonata ). The genus Lymnaea includes the largest native freshwater snail, the pond snail ( Lymnaea stagnalis ).

System

The systematic scope of the genus is still very controversial. There are three approaches, a " major species" Lymnaea without subgenera: all kinds are under the genus Lymnaea ( Hubendick2 ), a " major species" Lymnaea with subgenera ( Kruglov & Starobogatov3 ) and a " small class " Lymnaea with several closely-related, independent genera ( = the subgenera in the intermediate approach) ( inter alia Glöer1 ). Also, the number of valid species is controversial. The number ranges from well over 100 species in a " large genus " Lymnaea up to a minimum of less than a dozen species ("small class " Lymnaea ). New DNA studies and crossing experiments have shown that populations that have been determined earlier than Lymnaea stagnalis, are in fact distinct species. This should still provide very in question, the number of only about a dozen of the " small class " Lymnaea. According to the uncertainty in the scope of the genus therefore a characterization of the genus is very difficult.

• Pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis Linnaeus, 1758
• Lymnaea fragilis Linnaeus, 1758
• Lymnaea bodamica Müller, 1873
• Lymnaea doriana Bourguignat, 1862
• Lymnaea media Hartmann, 1844
• Lymnaea atkaensis Dall, 1884
• Lymnaea columella Say, 1817
• Lymnaea emarginata Say
• Lymnaea natalensis Krauss, 1848
• Lymnaea tomentosa tomentosa Pfeiffer, 1855
• Lymnaea tomentosa hamiltoni Dell, 1956
• Lymnaea vulnerata Küster, 1862