Viviparus georgianus

History of Spread

Viviparus georgianus (Banded Mystery Snail), together with other members of the 'V. georgianus' species complex, are native to the Mississippi drainage and southeast Atlantic drainages from IL to LA, and GA to FL (Burch 1982; Clench 1962; Katoh and Foltz 1994). Viviparus georgianus is an attractive snail, which has been widely distributed in northeastern North America by collectors, the aquarium trade, and canals (Clench 1962; Clench and Fuller 1965; Mills et al. 1993; Mills et al. 1997).

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River- The first introduction to Atlantic Coast drainages was its introduction in the Mohawk River and Erie Canal; Mohawk NY, by James Lewis, an amateur naturalist. Multiple introductions from aquarium releases, barge traffic, etc. are likely (Clench 1962; Mills et al. 1993; Mills et al. 1997). The first record in Lake Michigan was 1906, in Lake Erie 1914, and in the St.Lawrence estuary Quebec, by 1953 (Bousfield 1955).

Charles River System (MA) - Viviparus georgianus was first reported from ponds in the Boston Public Gardens in 1916, and soon became widespread in the vicinity of Boston (Clench 1962; Clench and Fuller 1965).

Hudson River - Viviparus georgianus probably reached the Hudson by Lewis's introduction in the Mohawk River, but spotty distribution in the Hudson basin indicates multiple introductions. It is now locally abundant (Mills et al. 1997; Strayer 1987).

Delaware River - Viviparus georgianus was collected at Fairmont Park, Philadelphia PA, and at Riverton NJ (dates not given) (Clench 1962).

Chesapeake Bay Drainage (Potomac River) - All Chesapeake drainage records are from the Potomac (Beetle 1973c; Clench 1962; Dundee 1974; United States National Museum of Natural History collections). Viviparus georgianus was not included in a species list for the Potomac Valley based on 1892 field collections (Pilsbry 1894). The oldest United States National Museum of Natural History specimens are dated 1901, from Hunters Point, Alexandria VA. This snail was reported from Seneca MD and Great Falls to Alexandria and Mount Vernon (Clench 1962; United States National Museum of Natural History collections). In Beetle's (1973c) VA freshwater mollusk checklist, it was reported only for Fairfax County. The present abundance and distribution are not known. Paul Fofonoff has not found shells of this snail in occasional searches along the tidal and lower nontidal Potomac (1996-2000), so it may be less abundant than Cipangopaludina chinensis (Chinese Mystery Snail) and Bithynia tentaculata (Faucet Snail) (Fofonoff, personal observation).

History References - Beetle 1973c; Bousfield 1955; Burch 1982; Clench 1962; Clench and Fuller 1965; Dundee 1974; Katoh and Foltz 1994; Mills et al. 1993; Mills et al. 1997; Pilsbry 1894; Strayer 1987; United States National Museum of Natural History collections

Invasion Comments