Live Pomacea maculata from Cunningham Creek (9/30/2006)

Live Pomacea maculata from Cunningham Creek (10/5/2006)

    Suspecting that the source of the Channeled Apple Snails in Cunningham Creek may have been an upstream water body, the nearby up-scale community of Julington Creek Plantation was then visited - an area where topographic maps indicated there were a series of small lakes/ponds that ultimately flowed into the creek. Like the creek itself, access to the places of interest was inhibited by the fact that they were totally surrounded by private property. However, a small pond immediately adjacent to Davis Pond Boulevard at a picnic pavilion was accessible. Upon approaching this impoundment, Pomacea egg clutches were plainly visible but closer examination revealed that they were those of the native Pomacea paludosa (Say, 1829) and not those of a Channeled Applesnail. Although the intended quarry was not present, the impoundment was surveyed which revealed it had an amazingly diverse population of aquatic species including an exotic species [Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850)] that had never before been identified from northeast Florida (Clay, Duval, St. Johns, and Nassau Counties]. Melanoides turricula is known to exist in other areas of Florida. However, the snails found in the pond differ from that species and remain unidentified at this time. Species thus far identified from the small public pond include:

• Campeloma floridense (Call, 1886) Purple-throat Campeloma

• Pomacea paludosa (Say, 1829) Floida Applesnail

• Planorbella duryi (Wetherby, 1879)

• Elliptio occulta (I. Lea, 1843) Hidden Spike

• Elliptio monroensis (I. Lea, 1843) St. John's Elephant-ear

• Uniomerus carolinianus (Bosc, 1801) Florida Pondhorn (very large - up to 106 mm. in length)

• Villosa vibex (Conrad, 1834) Southern Rainbow

• Utterbackia imbecillis (Say, 1829) Paper Pondshell (introduced species)

• Melanoides cf. turricula (I. Lea, 1850) Fawn Melania (introduced species)

Julington Creek Plantation pond

Pomacea paludosa egg clutches