ABSTRACT
Ampullariidae are freshwater snails predominantly distributed in humid tropical and subtropical habitats of Africa, South and Central America, and Asia. The family name Pilidae is a junior synonym (ICZN, 1999) and should not be used. They include the largest of all freshwater snails (up to 17cm) and are a major component of the native freshwater mollusc faunas of many regions. Among the nine genera usually recognized (Berthold, 1991; Cowie and Thiengo, 2003), the two largest are Pomacea and Pila. Snails in these genera particularly are frequently known as ‘apple snails’ because many species bear large, round, often greenish shells.
