Pomacea paludosa (Say, 1829) Florida Applesnail Unusually Dark Specimen

    Eastern shoreline of the St. Johns River just north of Picolata, far western St. Johns County, Florida 11/11/2011 (39 mm.). An additional three live equally dark specimens were found nearby. While empty Pomacea paludosa shells are periodically found in the same general area, the aforementioned specimens are the first live Pomacea that this reporter has found in the St. Johns River. Pomacea paludosa are common in the feeder creeks of the river in this area of St. Johns County but it is believed that the river's salinity inhibits the species survival in the river itself for other than short periods.