Ferrissia californica (Rowell, 1863), an aquatic pulmonate [formerly widely known as Ferrisia fragilis (Tryon, 1863), is reported herein to have established a population in the Tskhal-Tsiteli, or Iazoni, Cave (Caucasus, Georgia), within the invasive range of this species. This is the first record of a sustained population of an invasive freshwater pulmonate in an underground environment. Possible consequences of this invasion are briefly discussed. It is possible that this alien snail may threaten the native snail species Motsametia borutzkii (Zhadin, 1932), which is endemic to Tskhal-Tsiteli Cave.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1147-1155
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Natural History
Volume52
Issue number17-18
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 May 2018

    Research areas

  • Caucasus, Ferrissia californica, biological invasion, cave biodiversity, conservation, underground habitat

    Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

ID: 17532806