Aquatic Invertebrates
Media
![Photo of several prosobranch pond snails crawling on a rock.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2015/08/gilled_pond_snails_clifty_creek_8-11-15.jpg?itok=4SWk6f5b)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Over 20 Missouri species in former subclass Prosobranchia
Description
Gilled snails are one of two main groups of aquatic snails in Missouri (the other group is the "lunged" snails). Gilled snails, or prosobranchs, breathe with gills and possess a hard trapdoor-like operculum. They are most common in the Ozarks.
Media
![Photo of pulmonate snail crawling on rock](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/images/2013/08/pulmonate_snail_08-18-13.jpg?itok=2l5gSQiC)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Over 30 Missouri species in former subclass Pulmonata
Description
Pulmonate, or lunged snails breathe via a lunglike pulmonary cavity, and they lack the hard trapdoor-like operculum found in gilled snails. Except for in the Ozarks, pulmonate snails predominate in most of the aquatic regions in our state.
Media
![Photo of a ramshorn snail on a wet rock.](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/ramshorn_snail__10-2016.jpg?itok=0h030gDs)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Gyraulus, Helisoma, Menetus, Micromenetus, Planorbula spp.
Description
Ramshorn snails are easy to identify at a glance, because the shell is a flat, disklike coil. Like other pulmonate aquatic snails, they lack the hard horny “trapdoor” possessed by other types of aquatic snails.
Media
![Two Chinese mysterysnails, out of water, resting on a white surface, with a ruler nearby for scale](/sites/default/files/styles/media_library/public/mo_nature/media/field-guide/Chinese_Mystery_Snail_9-8-16.jpg?itok=HoS5RtRI)
Species Types
Scientific Name
Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata (syn. Bellamya chinensis)
Description
The Chinese mysterysnail is a nonnative invasive species quickly taking over urban waters throughout the state. Never release aquarium species or aquarium water into natural aquatic habitats. Learn about and practice clean boating techniques so that you do not accidentally spread invasive aquatic species.
See Also
About Aquatic Invertebrates in Missouri
Missouri's streams, lakes, and other aquatic habitats hold thousands of kinds of invertebrates — worms, freshwater mussels, snails, crayfish, insects, and other animals without backbones. These creatures are vital links in the aquatic food chain, and their presence and numbers tell us a lot about water quality.