Aquatic center lake Pomacea with no operculum

*Aquatic center lake Pomacea* with no operculum**
Between 6/29/2006 and 7/9/2006 about 40 specimens were collected from the aquatic park lake and closely examined. Of that number, two (illustrated below) were found to have no operculum and showed no evidence of ever having had one. Interestingly, one of the two (below left) was found to have an 8 mm. apparent mammalian tooth (bottom three photos) firmly embedded in its foot. It would seem that the presence of the tooth (an unsuccessful attempt at predation by a yet unidentified species) was the result of the snail not having the protection of an operculum instead of the reason that one was not present.