THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION

Aquatic Invertebrates in Pacific Northwest Freshwater Wetlands
An Identification Guide and Educational Resource

The family Viviparidae is not native to the Pacific Northwest. The Chinese mystery snail, Cipangopaludina chinensis, is a native of east and southeast Asia that has been widely introduced in California and has been collected in Washington (Greenlake in Seattle) and Utah.

The shell of Cipangopaludina chinensis is very large (>35mm), fairly thin, and rounded (globose). Like all mystery snails, it has an operculumbut its size and more spherical shape help differentiate it from others.

Here are some outside links to additional imformation about this family:

http://nis.gsmfc.org/nis_factsheet.php?toc_id=125
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Zoo/9522/cipango.html
http://www.arnobrosi.com/viviparidae.html

Size: xlarge
Identifying feature(s): shell is generally broad or globose; opening may be very large; only family in NW with operculum made up of concentric circles instead of spirals
Habitat: slow, muddy waters
Tolerance: moderate