This genus has not yet become established in the USA, but it is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.[9]
Shell description
The shell of species in the genus Bulinus is sinistral. It has a very large body whorl and a small spire.
Species
Species within the genus Bulinus have been placed into four species groups: the Bulinus africanus group, Bulinus forskalii group, Bulinus reticulatus group and the Bulinus truncatus/tropicuscomplex.[6] For the most part, species have been classified on the basis of their morphology although, in recent decades, the study of ploidy, allozymes and DNA methods have all played an increasing role in species discrimination.[6] Morphological characters, whilst adequate to allocate a specimen to a species group are sometimes unreliable when used to classify at higher resolution especially within the Bulinus africanus group.[6]
There are 37[2] (or 38 species when the Bulinus mutandensis is recognized as a separate species) species within the genus Bulinus including:
^Stothard, J. R.; Brémond, P.; Andriamaro, L.; Sellin, B.; Sellin, E.; Rollinson, D. (2001). "Bulinus species on Madagascar: Molecular evolution, genetic markers and compatibility with Schistosoma haematobium". Parasitology. 123 Suppl (7): S261 –S275. doi:10.1017/s003118200100806x. PMID11769288. S2CID21584714.
^Jørgensen, A.; Jørgensen, L. V. G.; Kristensen, T. K.; Madsen, H.; Stothard, J. R. (2007). "Molecular phylogenetic investigations of Bulinus (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) in Lake Malawi with comments on the topological incongruence between DNA loci". Zoologica Scripta. 36 (6): 577. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2007.00298.x. S2CID85182925.
^Cowie R. H., Dillon R. T., Robinson D. G. & Smith J. W. (2009). "Alien non-marine snails and slugs of priority quarantine importance in the United States: A preliminary risk assessment". American Malacological Bulletin27: 113-132. PDFArchived 16 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine.