First report of the invasive freshwater snail Tarebia granifera (Lamarck, 1816) (Gastropoda: Thiaridae) from Israel

An invasive operculate gastropod, the freshwater snail Tarebia granifera, is reported for the first time from Israel. In a survey of 52 freshwater sites populations of T. granifera were discovered at four sites, in abundance at two of them, one of which included individuals infected with the trematode Philophthalmus sp. In both sites T. granifera outnumbered its close native relative and potential competitor, the thiarid Melanoides tuberculata, in abundance and mean embryo counts, and in one of the habitats almost excluded it. This invasion may have important public health implications, due to T. granifera s role as an intermediate host of the human eye flukes. Furthermore, evidence of long-distance dispersal or multiple invasion sites may facilitate the host's and parasite's spread to other water bodies used for agriculture and fish ponds.