Alerta por la llegada del caracol gigante africano (Lissachatina fulica): primer registro de una especie invasora de relevancia sanitaria en Tucumán, Argentina

Eugenia Salas Oroño; Exequiel  Barboza; Águeda Verónica  Isa-Miranda

doi:10.30550/j.azl/2388

Authors

Eugenia Salas Oroño Instituto de Invertebrados, Fundación Miguel Lillo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2058-8609
Exequiel Barboza Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Fundación Miguel Lillo https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2371-5403
Águeda Verónica Isa-Miranda nstituto de Invertebrados, Fundación Miguel Lillo; CONICET https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3300-7490

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30550/j.azl/2388

Keywords:

Molluscs, invasive species, first record, Tucumán, public health

Abstract

Lisschatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) is reported for the first time in Tucumán. Until now, this invasive species had only been recorded in Argentina from Misiones and Corrientes. The giant African snail has significant ecological, economic, and public health risks. Live specimens were found in the garden of a residential building in the Ciudadela neighborhood, in the capital city. A plausible hypothesis is that the species was accidentally introduced through gardening activities. Its presence is concerning due to its high reproductive rate and the absence of natural predators, which promotes its establishment and expansion as a highly successful invasive species, with the potential to transmit diseases to humans and animals, as well as to cause significant economic losses.

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References

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https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/237478/20201119