Chinese mystery snail
Cipangopaludina chinensis
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Photo credit: United States Geological Survey
Cipangopaludina chinensis – Chinese mystery snail
Description:
Habitat:
Origin and Distribution:
Impacts:
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
How could it get here?
Prevent Spread
You can help by reporting any sightings:@ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current legislative position (Listed on 07 August 2025) This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk
Cipangopaludina chinensis – Chinese mystery snail
Description:
- A conspicuously large freshwater snail that is easily distinguished from native species
- Shell is globular in shape
- Shell height of up to 6.5 cm
- Shell colour can be lighter in juveniles and olive, green, brown or reddish-brown in adults
Habitat:
- Inhabits freshwater systems such as ponds, lakes, canals and slow-moving rivers
- A preference for silt or sand bottoms with sufficient calcium
- Can tolerate a diverse range of temperatures
Origin and Distribution:
- Native to East Asia
- Introduced to freshwater systems across North America and present in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England and Spain
Impacts:
- Could reduce native freshwater snail populations through competition
- Potential to alter nutrient cycling
- Shells can block water intake pipes, restricting flow
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- It is not currently present in Northern Ireland
How could it get here?
- Escape or deliberate release from their use in aquaria or food consumption
- Once introduced, there is the potential for natural spread via water corridors
- Once introduced, human-mediated spread as a contaminant on boats and machinery
Prevent Spread
- Prevention via enforcing the IAS (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (Northern Ireland) ensuring that Cipangopaludina chinensis is not introduced to Northern Ireland
- Reporting any sightings so that Rapid Response can be instigated
- Following Check Clean Dry
- Properly disposing of unwanted aquarium contents
You can help by reporting any sightings:@ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current legislative position (Listed on 07 August 2025) This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk