Native and non-native records of the invasive freshwater apple snail Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810

Of these occurrences, 332 correspond to the native range, while 1318 belong to invaded areas.This species is native to South America; however, it has been introduced to other parts of the world through the aquarium trade and, particularly in Asia, as a food resource for human consumption.

As an invasive species, Pomacea maculata may alter food-web structure and ecosystem functioning by competing with native species, consuming aquatic plants, and providing a novel prey source for native predators. Such invasions may also lead to shifts in feeding behavior among other organisms and provide new hosts for parasites, including the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis. By consuming macrophytes, invasive Pomacea species can modify entire aquatic ecosystems by driving shifts between alternative stable states.