Morphological and molecular characterization of brown-banded broodsacs and metacercariae of Leucochloridium (Trematoda: Leucochloridiidae) parasitizing the semi-slug Omalonyx unguis (Succineidae) in Argentina.

Trematodes of the genus Leucochloridium exhibit an unusual transmission strategy among mollusks (intermediate host). The fully developed sporocyst, housing encysted metacercariae, displays vivid coloration and rhythmic activity in the snail's tentacle, mimicking insect larvae. These strategies attract insectivorous birds, their final hosts, thereby increasing the chances of completing their life cycle.

The mitochondrial genome of the semi-slug Omalonyx unguis (Gastropoda: Succineidae) and the phylogenetic relationships within Stylommatophora.

Here we report the first complete mitochondrial genome of the semi-slug Omalonyx unguis (d'Orbigny, 1836) (Gastropoda: Succineidae). Sequencing was performed on a specimen from Argentina. Assembly was performed using Sanger data and Illumina next generation sequencing (NGS).

Hidden diversity in waterfall environments: The genus Acrorbis (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) from the Upper-Paraná Atlantic Forest.

High-energy freshwater environments such as rapids and waterfalls in the Upper-Paraná Atlantic Forest are home to highly endemic minute freshwater snails of the genus Acrorbis. Only one species, Acrorbis petricola, is currently included within this genus, whose geographical distribution is restricted to three known populations, one in Brazil and the other two in Argentina. Because of habitat specificity and limited geographical distribution, the species is considered vulnerable in Argentina and endangered in Brazil.

From morphology to molecules: a combined source approach to untangle the taxonomy of (Gastropoda, Odontostomidae), endemic land snails from the Dry Chaco ecoregion.

Background: Land gastropods of the Dry Chaco merit special attention because they comprise a highly diverse but barely studied group. Doering, 1875 are typical inhabitants of this ecoregion. The inclusion of their distribution areas into range, their shell shape similarities, and a former molecular study raised doubts on the monophyly of this genus.

The exotic jumping snail Ovachlamys fulgens (Gude, 1900) (Gastropoda: Helicarionidae) in urban areas of the Upper-Paraná Atlantic Forest.

The exotic land gastropod Ovachlamys fulgens (Gude, 1900), aka the jumping snail, was registered in Eldorado city, Misiones province, constituting the first documented record of that species in Argentina-and for all of South America as well. Identities of the individuals were confirmed through morphological examination, and by a DNA sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. DNA sequences for the mitochondrial 16S-rRNA and the nuclear 18S-rRNA genes were also obtained from the morphologically-confirmed specimens to gain insights into the genetic background of this species in Argentina, and as additional markers for enhancing the rapidity of identification by governmental authorities who are responsible for managing the presence of exotic species.

The South-American distribution and southernmost record of -a potential intermediate host of schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis remains a major parasitic disease, endemic in large parts of South America. Five neotropical species of have been found to act as intermediate hosts of in natural populations, while others have been shown to be susceptible in experimental infections, although not found infected in the field. Among these potential intermediate hosts, represents the most widespread species in South America, with confirmed occurrence records from Venezuela to northern Patagonia.

[Terrestrial gastropods from Misiones Province, Argentina].

The Atlantic Forest represents one of the global priority eco-regions for biodiversity conservation. In Argentina, this is represented by the Paranense Forest, which occupies much of the Misiones Province. In this paper, an updated list of land mollusks from Misiones Province is presented, and its species richness was evaluated comparing protected and unprotected areas.