Will the real invasive snail please stand up? A phylogenetic reconsideration of Paralaoma servilis (Shuttleworth, 1852) (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Punctidae)

A phylogenetic analysis challenges the long-held assumption that Paralaoma servilis, a snail species believed to be one of the most globally invasive, is a single entity. Using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA data, researchers identified at least five distinct species within what was previously classified as P. servilis. These include P. amblygona, P. borealis, P. caputspinulae, and P. morti, each with distinct native ranges, alongside the invasive clade of P. servilis. The study highlights how outdated taxonomic classifications can mislead biodiversity assessments and conservation efforts, particularly when native species are mistakenly treated as invasives.

Nekola, J. C., Brook, F. J., Foon, J. K., Horsáková, V., Ishii, Y., Köhler, F., Líznarová, E., Nováková, M., Saito, T., Salvador, R. B., & Horsák, M. (2024). Will the real invasive snail please stand up? A phylogenetic reconsideration of Paralaoma servilis (Shuttleworth, 1852) (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Punctidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 203(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae142