Euconulus fulvus (Müller 1774) - (Brown Hive Snail)

Interactions:

It is very common for some species of mollusks to serve as intermediate host for many smaller organisms. For example in a study done by Grewal 2003 entitled Parasitism of Molluscs by Nematodes, which looked at the life cycle of nematodes. In this paper, Grewal points out how nematodes use various species of slugs and snails as an effective mean of survival and transportation from on host to another.  In this study he explains that for nematodes at different stages in their lives, the mollusk in a way helps develop them until they are intentionally or unintentionally swallowed by a variety of different vertebrates.  In another study dealing with the observation of Cooper’s Rocky Mountain snail that various species in the Euconulus genera carried various lungworms that later infected various vertebrates such as rabbits and sheep (Grewal et. al, 2003; Anderson, 2005).

Below is a list of the species of nematodes taken from Grewal’s study in which Euconulus fulvus (Müller 1774) served as an intermediate host:(Grewal et. al, 2003).

Elaphostrongylus cervi

Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei

Parelaphostrongylus hobmaieri

Pneumostrongylus rufescens

Pneumostrongylus stilesi

Pneumostrongylus rushi

Umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis

Varestrongylus pneumonicus

Now that you have hopefully learned a little about how Euconulus fulvus (Müller 1774) interact with other organisms find out what their species and genus names mean on the Meaning of Name page.

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