How to Identify Florida Applesnail

To identify Florida Applesnail (Planorbella duryi), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

rounded

Coloration

Shell color can vary widely, including shades of brown, red, pink, blue, and albino (white/yellow). The body of the snail is typically grey, black, or reddish, often with speckles.

Scale type

none

Mouth position

inferior

Distinctive features

Planospiral (flat-coiled) shell, resembling a ram's horn., Shell aperture (opening) is wide and lacks an operculum., Possesses two tentacles with eyes at their base.

Dorsal fin

N/A (mollusk)

Tail fin

N/A (mollusk)

Pectoral fin

N/A (mollusk)

Distinctive fins

N/A (mollusk)

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Shell Shape

   Look for a distinctly flat-coiled, discoidal shell, unlike the conical shells of many other freshwater snails (e.g., bladder snails, pond snails).

2. 2

   Size

   Adult shells can reach up to 2.5-3 cm (1-1.2 inches) in diameter, making them larger than many other common ramshorn snails.

3. 3

   Coloration

   Observe the shell and body coloration, which can be quite variable but often includes shades of brown, red, or even blue in captive-bred varieties.

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