Bithynia siamensis
Encyclopedia
Bithynia siamensis is a species
of a freshwater snail
with a gill
and an operculum
, an aquatic prosobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Bithyniidae
.
The population of Bithynia siamensis fluctuates during the year.
for Southeast Asian liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini
. The number of excretory cells of the digestive system
is increased in infected Bithynia siamensis.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of a freshwater snail
Freshwater snail
A freshwater snail is one kind of freshwater mollusc, the other kind being freshwater clams and mussels, i.e. freshwater bivalves. Specifically a freshwater snail is a gastropod that lives in a watery non-marine habitat. The majority of freshwater gastropods have a shell, with very few exceptions....
with a gill
Gill
A gill is a respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms that extracts dissolved oxygen from water, afterward excreting carbon dioxide. The gills of some species such as hermit crabs have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are kept moist...
and an operculum
Operculum (gastropod)
The operculum, meaning little lid, is a corneous or calcareous anatomical structure which exists in many groups of sea snails and freshwater snails, and also in a few groups of land snails...
, an aquatic prosobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Bithyniidae
Bithyniidae
Bithyniidae is a family of small freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha.Their minute shell is often colored. They are characterized by a calcareous operculum, a lobe on the upper surface of the neck. The ctenidium, the respiratory gill-comb, is...
.
Subspecies
- Bithynia siamensis siamensis - synonym: Bithynia siamensis goniomphalus
- Bithynia siamensis funiculata
- Bithynia siamensis laevis
Distribution
This species occurs in:- ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
The population of Bithynia siamensis fluctuates during the year.
Parasites
Bithynia siamensis serves as a first intermediate hostIntermediate host
A secondary host or intermediate host is a host that harbors the parasite only for a short transition period, during which some developmental stage is completed. For trypanosomes, the cause of sleeping sickness, humans are the primary host, while the tsetse fly is the secondary host...
for Southeast Asian liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini
Opisthorchis viverrini
Opisthorchis viverrini, common name Southeast Asian liver fluke, is a trematode parasite from the family Opisthorchiidae that attacks the area of the bile duct. Infection is acquired when people ingest raw or undercooked fish. It causes the disease opisthorchiasis...
. The number of excretory cells of the digestive system
Digestive system of gastropods
The digestive system of gastropods has evolved to suit almost every kind of diet and feeding behavior. Gastropods as the largest taxonomic class of the mollusca are very diverse indeed: the group includes carnivores, herbivores, scavengers, filter feeders, and even parasites.In particular, the...
is increased in infected Bithynia siamensis.