New record of freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) (Mollusca, Gastropoda) inhabiting Teary Spring, Wadi Aideib at Elba National Park, Egypt

New record of freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) (Mollusca, Gastropoda) inhabiting Teary Spring, Wadi Aideib at Elba National Park, Egypt | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article New record of freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) (Mollusca, Gastropoda) inhabiting Teary Spring, Wadi Aideib at Elba National Park, Egypt Aldoushy Mahdy, Rashad E.M. Said This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7320447/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This research is a part of exploration both terrestrial and aquatic biotopes in southeastern Egypt. Gebel Elba natural protectorate is unlike any other area of Egypt in terms of its biodiversity. Elba Mountain also boasts a lot of magnificent natural springs and wells. One of the interesting tourist attractions is Teary Spring located at 22°12'51" N, 36°22'52" E. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that freshwater snail red-rimmed Melania Melanoides tuberculata may be found in a mountain spring at a high altitude at Wadi Aideib. On the spring bed, the snails were observed during a scientific Saharan survey to Elba natural protected area. They were then collected and transported alive to the lab for identification. Using a caliper, some morphometric measurements were conducted, including shell height, shell weight, aperture length, aperture weight and whorls count. Additionally, identification guides were applied to identify the snails. The result indicates that the snail species is red-rimmed Melania Melanoides tuberculata that belongs to thiarids gastropod. The average length is about 13.97 mm, 4.32 mm shell width and 8 whorls. The findings of this study strongly suggest further research into Melanoides tuberculata distribution and its link to environmental changes in various habitats. New record gastropod Melanoides tuberculata Elba National Park Egypt Red Sea Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 1. Introduction The current work is continuation for exploring different biotopes, both terrestrial and aquatic. For example, the first record of Pteragogus trispilus was found during our previous collaborated exploration of the east Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya (Fitori et al. 2021). Also, the chromodoridid nudibranch Felimare picta was first record near the Tobruk bay basin, Libya (Said et al. 2023). Our previous survey covered the coastal regions of the Elba protectorate in the south, the Wadi El Gemal protected area in the middle, and Hurghada in the north (Ghallab et al. 2024). Between the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, regional differences in remotely sensed data were evaluated (Said et al. 2024). Due to the ecological interaction between the marine and terrestrial sectors in Elba protectorate, scientific interest is required. Through a Red Sea exploration from the coastal Elba protectorate, red tide was recently observed in Egypt for the first time (Mahdy et al. 2022). The Eastern Desert of Egypt has a range of coastal mountains that run parallel to the Red Sea. The most diverse natural biotope, Gebel Elba, is situated in southeast Egypt, close to the Sudanese border (El-Ghani and Abdel-Khalik 2006). Gebel Elba is one of the noteworthy mountains, and due of its distinctive features, it is the most significant habitat for flora and animals in Egypt. It is also one of the regions in the world that has had the least amount of exploration. Thiaridae is a family of gastropods Mollusca inhabit fresh and brackish waters, covers almost the entire northern and eastern part of Africa, North Australia, South Asia (Piechocki et al. 2003). Subfossil sites and recent data most likely indicate that the species had a larger range of distribution in the past (Brown 1994). The native range of Melanoides tuberculata extends from Southeast Asia through the Middle East and eastern Africa (Brown 1994; Facon et al. 2003). According to Raw et al. (2016), Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) is one of the prominent alien invasive thiarid gastropods that have established populations in a diverse range, where it inhabits a wide variety of aquatic environments (Perissinotto et al. 2014). Melanoides tuberculata is a freshwater snail that has attracted attention for being an invasive species and is regarded as one of the most successful colonizers (Fernandez et al. 2003). In Egypt, it is widely distributed in the Nile Valley and Delta, also it was reported from Lake Manzala (Sattmann and Kinzelbach 1988; Abd El-Wakeil et al. 2013; Abdelhady et al. 2018; Orabi and Khalifa 2020), Lake Maruit (Khalil and Koussa 2013),Wadi El-Natroun, Wadi El-Hammamad, Quseir, and Baharia, Dakhla, Farafra, Kharga, and Siwa Oases (Sattmann and Kinzelbach 1988). Additionally, it was reported from Sinai (Ibrahim et al. 2006; Yousif et al. 2009). Melanoides tuberculata has been linked to the transmission of harmful trematode parasites to people, cattle, and wild animals as an intermediate host, similar to other inland water gastropods (Rader et al. 2003). Recently, Melanoides tuberculata and Tarebia granifera have been identified as first intermediate hosts of the liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis (Nguyen et al. 2021). The primary goal of the current study was to broaden the exploration of the terrestrial portion of Elba protectorate and discover the presence of new invertebrates. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Study area Gebel Elba (Figs. 1 ,2A, B and C ) is around 25 km west of the Red Sea coast and has 14 Wadis, the greatest of which is Wadi Aideib at about 400 m above sea level. There are numerous wells and springs in Gebel Elba protected area. During the current investigation, a spring called "Teary Spring" in Wadi Aideib was checked for the presence of visible fauna at 22°12'51" N, 36°22'52" E. Three large Wadis divide the massif: Wadi Serimtai to the south, Wadi Akwamatra to the north, and the third, the forested Wadi Aideib, which virtually divides the mountain in half. These sloped, depressed beds act as the mountain's drainage system, heading eastward toward the Red Sea. Wadi Aideib is rich in trees e.g., Plicosepalus acaciae , Indigofera spinosa , Coccinia grandis , Commicarpus boissieri , and Delonix elata ), Peristrophe paniculata , Tolpis barbata , Melanoloma pullatum , soapberry tree Balanites aegyptiaca , (also known as the Egyptian balsam), Bitter apple ( Citrullus colocynthis ) in addition to intensive grasses, due to the passage of torrential water. Many (5) springs are observed in Wadi Aideib ( Figs. 2D, E- F ), one of which was inhabited by a significant population of Melanoides tuberculata ( Fig. 2E-F ). This spring is situated at a height of roughly 365 m above sea level and has a surface area of 2 m x 1.5 m, a depth of about 25 cm, and receives freshwater via a 15 m long conduct that runs underneath mountains. Teary spring is historically significant since it provided water to pilgrims coming through the Aidahab harbor many years ago (near Halayeb city, Egyptian). The spring still provides animals and the local Bedouins with fresh water throughout most of the year. Together with migratory birds, many other species of birds dominated this vegetated valley. In Wadi Aideib, it's interesting to observe the amphibian toad Sclerophrys dodsoni jumping around the water springs. To the best of our knowledge, in Egypt, this species only occurs in the Elba region. The specimens of Melanoides tuberculata were randomly collected, then transported to the laboratory of department of zoology, faculty of science, Al-Azhar university, Egypt. Live snails were randomly selected from the population and classified into four size classes (A, B, C, and D), with 10 snails in each class. In each size class, snails were cleaned, weighed and the visceral masses were removed and weighed separately. Other morphometric characteristics of shells, including height, width, the number of whorls, the measurements of the aperture. In addition, the ratio between width and height of shell, and the ratio between aperture length and shell height (Yousif et al. 2009). The samples were identified and classified according to Frandsen (1983), and Rowson and Shaw (2021). Following the measurements with the electronic balance and caliper, random ranks of snails were photographed. 3. Results The snails Melanoides tuberculata was categorized (Table 1 ) according to their sizes into 4 classes A, B, C and D (Figs. 4 , 5 ). The shape of the shell (Fig. 3 ) is conically elongated, with the length (height) being greater than a third of the width. There are several spiral grooves on the whorls. The investigated snail ranged in size from 12.5 to 16.2 mm in length and 3.8 to 5 mm in width. The fresh shell is a dark green color with distinct 8 whorls, however after cleaning, the color appears to a brownish hue with a dark reddish-brown base and conspicuous reddish-brown flames on the whorls close to the base. The mean weight of Melanoides tuberculata ranges from 75 mg in the smallest size category (D) to 128 mg in the largest size category (A), for a total mean of 94.5 mg (Table 1 and Fig. 2 ). Remarkably, all size classes had the same aperture length of 4 mm, but the width varied from 2.8mm in the smallest size rank to 4 in the largest. The width-to-height ratio of the shell was slightly constant around the value of (0. 30). The identified individuals are all red-rimmed Melania Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) belong to Phylum mollusca, Class: gastropoda, Subclass: caenogastropoda, Order: cerithiomorpha, Superfamily: cerithioidea, Family: thiaridae, Genus: Melanoides olivier , 1804 (Type species: Melanoides fasciolata Olivier , 1804, = Melanoides tuberculata (Müller,1774). Each size group was photographed from the front and back of their apertures (Fig. 3 ). Table 1 Traits of Melanoides tuberculata, with 10 individuals for each size class. Means, n = 10 for each rank Total mean Measured traits A B C D Shell height (mm) 16.2 14 13.2 12.5 13.97 Shell width (mm) 5 4.5 4 3.8 4.32 Number of whorls 8 8 8 8 8 Total weight (mg) 128 97 78 75 94.5 Visceral mass weight (mg) 85 52 45 42 56 Shell weight (mg) 35 32 28 27 30.5 Aperture length (mm) 4 4 4 4 4 Aperture width (mm) 4 3.5 3 2.8 3.3 Ratio between width and height of shell 0.312 0.321 0.30 0.30 0.30 Ratio between aperture length and shell height 0.25 0.25 0.23 0.22 0.23 4. Discussion A large body of research has been explored the marine and terrestrial parts along the red sea(El Kafrawy et al. 2020; Soliman et al. 2021; Mahdy et al. 2022; Hamed et al. 2024; Ghallab et al. 2024) While investigating the aquatic part of Elba protectorate in 2017, a study recorded the first observation of red tide in Egypt (Mahdy et al. 2022), and linked the phenomenon to nutrient-rich discharges from Elba protectorate area. The current study consistently explores the terrestrial part, particularly Wadi Aideib, an interesting one in the Elba mountains. Snails are key producers of aquatic primary production since they are feeding on diatoms, algae, and plants. Snails on the other hand are important food source for fish and are eaten in abundance by waterfowl. Many years ago in Egypt, domestic ducks and geese were thought to act as biological controls for the snails hosting Schistosoma and Fasciola species near freshwater supplies. Experimentally, Yousif et al. (2010) revealed that Melanoides tuberculata inhibited the growth of Bulinus truncates and, consequently, its ability to produce the cercaria of Schistosoma haematobium. M. tuberculata coloration in the present investigation is consistent with the color documented for specimens of the same species found in numerous other regions. M. tuberculata , measuring 7.3 mm in height and 2.3 mm in width, was identified by Orabi and Osman (2015) from Manzala Lagoon, Egypt, which receive a huge amounts of polluted waters from different sources. In contrast, these sizes in the current study are 13.97 mm in height and 4.3 mm in width. Ecological parameters vary greatly between different geographical areas, different biomes, different ecological zones, and even different water bodies. This implies that Elba is an appropriate biotope and provides shelter for a variety of species. Due to its parthenogenic and ovoviparous characteristics, M. tuberculata is ideally suited for the invasion of new environments (Appleton et al. 2009). Additionally, it is frequently kept in aquaria and has unintentionally made its way to thermal springs in cooler regions of the temperate areas (Glöer 2015). In consistence with the current research, M. tuberculata was reported by Gashtarov and Georgiev (2016) from a thermal spring in Bulgaria. Our research indicates that this is the first instance of this species of snail being found in a location like Wadi Aideib on Elba Mountain. According to Abutaha et al. (2019), Gebel Elba receives a small amount of water following winter rains; large granite boulders at higher elevations increase water retention between rocks and the formation of springs in valley beds. Additionally, the summit of Gebel Elba, known as a "mist oasis”, commonly ranks among the wettest places in Egypt because of the amount of precipitation that accumulates there due to the mix of dew, mist, and clouds. At Gebel Elba, there are 14 Wadi, with Wadi Aideib being the most depressed. Wadi Aideib is teeming with birds, other animals, dense grasses and trees such as Plicosepalus acaciae , Indigofera spinosa , Coccinia grandis , Commicarpus boissieri , and Delonix elata (Abd El-Ghani et al. 2017), due to the passage of torrential water. M. tuberculata is long-lived, brood their young internally, parthenogenetic, and viviparous, it exhibits high adaptability and the capacity to endure harsh environmental conditions and populate a new areas (Dillon 2000; Rader et al. 2003; Wingard et al. 2008). Furthermore, M. tuberculata can survive without water for longer than two years, however longer drying times reduce their survival rate (Abílio 2002). Also, M. tuberculata can survive in arid environments (Mitchell and Brandt 2005), and can tolerate low oxygen levels (Neck 1985). In Biscayne Bay, M. tuberculata at water salinity 33‰ (Wingard et al. 2008). M. tuberculata was reported to populate freshwater in Rural District, Tanzania at altitudes ranging 696–895 m (Nzalawahe et al. 2015).Similar study by (Ali and Hausdorf 2017) reported first records of two Land snails, Pupoides coenopictus and a second pupilloid species from Gebel Elba. Considering our observation and climate change as one of the variables affecting species spread, this implied that additional snail and invertebrate species might perhaps be found in Gebel Elba at higher altitudes. Bird life international has classified Gebel Elba as one of Egypt's Important Bird Areas (IBAs) due to the high proportion of breeding birds found there. Numerous migratory birds have been observed to breed in the Gebel Elba protected area (Goodman and Atta 1987), and the rate of nesting is increasing (Dora 2019; Abdelhafez et al. 2020). This may assist in figuring out the reason for the abundance of snails at this high elevation. Furthermore, predation, which is a biological interaction between animals like seed dispersal, may boost the dispersal capability of prey species. land snail species were found in feces samples of the birds Zosterops japonicus and Hypsipetes amaurotis , in addition two aquatic snail species were also detected in feces of Monticola solitarius (Kawakami et al. 2008). Moreover, Tornatellides boeningi , a gastropod molluscan snail, was reported (Wada et al. 2012) alive after being swallowed and passed through the digestive system of a bird. 5. Conclusions A diverse habitat, namely Elba protectorate, has been found to host Melanoides tuberculata . Wadi Aideib is an interesting Wadi because it is densely forested, with many birds and other faunal taxa inhabiting the area. Climate change and environmental circumstances, on the other hand, are the primary reasons why many species invade new habitats. This research leads us to believe that the area will be a promising habitat for new animal and plant species. More research, including genetic and phylogenetic studies, is urgently needed to track the distribution of snails in different regions of Egypt. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Not applicable Consent for publication Not applicable Availability of data and material Not applicable Competing interests The authors declare no conflict of interest Funding Neither people nor organizations provided financing for this research Authors' contributions AM : Conceptualization, methodology, visualization, investigation, data curation, REMS : Writing original draft, review, and editing. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgements We appreciate our trip companions Prof. Dr. Khaleid F. Abd El-Wakeel , Prof. Dr. Reda A. Ali , Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, and Dr. Mahmoud Hassan , Al-Azhar University Assiut Branch, Egypt, for their helpful role throughout the field trip and while exploring the area. Also, we would like to thank the residents of the Elba region, especially Mr. ( Essa El-Beshary ) for their assistance, guidance, and facilitation of sampling throughout the exploratory trips. References Abd El-Ghani MM, Huerta-Martínez FM, Hongyan L, Qureshi R (2017) Plant responses to hyperarid desert environments. Springer, Abd El-Wakeil KF, Obuid-Allah AH, Mohamed AH, Abd El-Aziz FE-ZA (2013) Community structure of molluscans in River Nile and its branches in Assiut governorate, Egypt. The Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 39 (3):193-198. doi:10.1016/j.ejar.2013.09.002 Abdelhady AA, Abdelrahman E, Elewa AMT, Fan J, Zhang S, Xiao J (2018) Phenotypic plasticity of the gastropod Melanoides tuberculata in the Nile Delta: A pollution-induced stabilizing selection. 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Fact Sheet. doi:10.3133/fs20083006 Yousif F, El Bardicy S, Ibrahim A, Sleem S (2010) Impact of the freshwater operculate snail Melanoides tuberculata on Survival and Egg Production of the planorbid snail Bulinus truncates and on its transmission of Schistosoma haematobium Infection. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries 14 (2):69-78 Yousif F, Ibrahim A, Sleem S, Elbardicy S, Ayoub M (2009) Morphological and Genetic Analyses of Melanoides tuberculata Populations in Egypt. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7320447","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":500626793,"identity":"3743ae76-f3e5-4e17-9d3e-0485a6edb677","order_by":0,"name":"Aldoushy Mahdy","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Al-Azhar University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Aldoushy","middleName":"","lastName":"Mahdy","suffix":""},{"id":500626794,"identity":"22796734-1b9a-4df5-87a0-d4c34efdcb13","order_by":1,"name":"Rashad E.M. Said","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACAyiWY2DgIVGLMWlaQCCxgWgt5uxnDxT8bDucvuH42YMPPjDYyek2ENBi2ZOXYNjbdjh3w5m8ZMMZDMnGZgcIOexAjoEB7zaglgM5ZtI8DAcStxHUcv6NgeHfbYfTgQxitdzIMTAG2pIAZBCpxXLGGwNj2X/phjNvvDE2nGFAhF/M+XPMDN+csZbnO59j+OBDhZ0cQS1AwAaMm2YGBbBKAwJqoYD5AQNDHYN8A3GqR8EoGAWjYAQCAEbVRU6w5CyUAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Al-Azhar University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rashad","middleName":"E.M.","lastName":"Said","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-07 15:53:18","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7320447/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7320447/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":89586612,"identity":"80c5783e-9fa9-45ac-95db-1141ceff4c3f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-21 15:18:59","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":173504,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMap showing the study area at Elba protectorate, where \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e was collected from water spring around Wadi Aideib, Gebel Elba, Red Sea, Egypt.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7320447/v1/155a718673ba21612c3e9ecf.jpg"},{"id":89586619,"identity":"669f71d1-255f-4d54-9981-102fc9ca45b3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-21 15:18:59","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":229927,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eIncredible vegetation and tree-rich places of Wadi Aideib at Gebel Elba, Red Sea, Egypt (A, B and C). There are numerous springs in the valley (D, E- F) that receive water from the mountain summits. One of these springs (E and F) was found to be inhabited and thriving by\u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7320447/v1/8e0086752b9f8fe16494f7f9.jpg"},{"id":89586613,"identity":"da83c208-f2ec-491a-8371-f1df303722bd","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-21 15:18:59","extension":"jpg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":43258,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eGeneral diagram shell morphology of \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e, SW; shell width, SH; shell height, AL; aperture length, AW; aperture width.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7320447/v1/359f09276f8486243cb79dbc.jpg"},{"id":89586616,"identity":"f730018e-488b-40c5-9bbf-f44748fc3355","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-21 15:18:59","extension":"jpg","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":115660,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFrontal (above) and back (below) view of the 4 size- classes of \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7320447/v1/6e42014f5aaabda79eff5a76.jpg"},{"id":89588016,"identity":"d4416cea-115f-41ab-83bd-cd0d898386a0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-21 15:34:59","extension":"jpg","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":68750,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eRandomly photograph showing the ranked 4 sized- classes \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e in Frontal (A) and back (B) view.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7320447/v1/c61b593cc0854082e74f0275.jpg"},{"id":99877181,"identity":"387f69e8-0259-465d-be3c-cdfc0617ca24","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-09 10:25:53","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1170703,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7320447/v1/e4b6bb34-af6b-4c85-a28f-0ccf6d1a373b.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eNew record of freshwater snail \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e (Müller, 1774) (Mollusca, Gastropoda) inhabiting Teary Spring, Wadi Aideib at Elba National Park, Egypt\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe current work is continuation for exploring different biotopes, both terrestrial and aquatic. For example, the first record of Pteragogus trispilus was found during our previous collaborated exploration of the east Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya (Fitori et al. 2021). Also, the chromodoridid nudibranch \u003cem\u003eFelimare picta\u003c/em\u003e was first record near the Tobruk bay basin, Libya (Said et al. 2023). Our previous survey covered the coastal regions of the Elba protectorate in the south, the Wadi El Gemal protected area in the middle, and Hurghada in the north (Ghallab et al. 2024). Between the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, regional differences in remotely sensed data were evaluated (Said et al. 2024).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDue to the ecological interaction between the marine and terrestrial sectors in Elba protectorate, scientific interest is required. Through a Red Sea exploration from the coastal Elba protectorate, red tide was recently observed in Egypt for the first time (Mahdy et al. 2022). The Eastern Desert of Egypt has a range of coastal mountains that run parallel to the Red Sea. The most diverse natural biotope, Gebel Elba, is situated in southeast Egypt, close to the Sudanese border (El-Ghani and Abdel-Khalik 2006). Gebel Elba is one of the noteworthy mountains, and due of its distinctive features, it is the most significant habitat for flora and animals in Egypt. It is also one of the regions in the world that has had the least amount of exploration. Thiaridae is a family of gastropods Mollusca inhabit fresh and brackish waters, covers almost the entire northern and eastern part of Africa, North Australia, South Asia (Piechocki et al. 2003). Subfossil sites and recent data most likely indicate that the species had a larger range of distribution in the past (Brown 1994). The native range of \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e extends from Southeast Asia through the Middle East and eastern Africa (Brown 1994; Facon et al. 2003). According to Raw et al. (2016), \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller, 1774) is one of the prominent alien invasive thiarid gastropods that have established populations in a diverse range, where it inhabits a wide variety of aquatic environments (Perissinotto et al. 2014). \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e is a freshwater snail that has attracted attention for being an invasive species and is regarded as one of the most successful colonizers (Fernandez et al. 2003). In Egypt, it is widely distributed in the Nile Valley and Delta, also it was reported from Lake Manzala (Sattmann and Kinzelbach 1988; Abd El-Wakeil et al. 2013; Abdelhady et al. 2018; Orabi and Khalifa 2020), Lake Maruit (Khalil and Koussa 2013),Wadi El-Natroun, Wadi El-Hammamad, Quseir, and Baharia, Dakhla, Farafra, Kharga, and Siwa Oases (Sattmann and Kinzelbach 1988). Additionally, it was reported from Sinai (Ibrahim et al. 2006; Yousif et al. 2009). \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e has been linked to the transmission of harmful trematode parasites to people, cattle, and wild animals as an intermediate host, similar to other inland water gastropods (Rader et al. 2003). Recently, \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eTarebia granifera\u003c/em\u003e have been identified as first intermediate hosts of the liver fluke \u003cem\u003eClonorchis sinensis\u003c/em\u003e (Nguyen et al. 2021). The primary goal of the current study was to broaden the exploration of the terrestrial portion of Elba protectorate and discover the presence of new invertebrates.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.1. Study area\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGebel Elba (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e,2A, B \u003cb\u003eand C\u003c/b\u003e) is around 25 km west of the Red Sea coast and has 14 Wadis, the greatest of which is Wadi Aideib at about 400 m above sea level. There are numerous wells and springs in Gebel Elba protected area. During the current investigation, a spring called \"Teary Spring\" in Wadi Aideib was checked for the presence of visible fauna at 22\u0026deg;12'51\" N, 36\u0026deg;22'52\" E. Three large Wadis divide the massif: Wadi Serimtai to the south, Wadi Akwamatra to the north, and the third, the forested Wadi Aideib, which virtually divides the mountain in half. These sloped, depressed beds act as the mountain's drainage system, heading eastward toward the Red Sea. Wadi Aideib is rich in trees e.g., \u003cem\u003ePlicosepalus acaciae\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eIndigofera spinosa\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCoccinia grandis\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCommicarpus boissieri\u003c/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eDelonix elata\u003c/em\u003e), \u003cem\u003ePeristrophe paniculata\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eTolpis barbata\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMelanoloma pullatum\u003c/em\u003e, soapberry tree \u003cem\u003eBalanites aegyptiaca\u003c/em\u003e, (also known as the Egyptian balsam), Bitter apple (\u003cem\u003eCitrullus colocynthis\u003c/em\u003e) in addition to intensive grasses, due to the passage of torrential water. Many (5) springs are observed in Wadi Aideib (\u003cb\u003eFigs.\u0026nbsp;2D, E- F\u003c/b\u003e), one of which was inhabited by a significant population of \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e (\u003cb\u003eFig.\u0026nbsp;2E-F\u003c/b\u003e). This spring is situated at a height of roughly 365 m above sea level and has a surface area of 2 m x 1.5 m, a depth of about 25 cm, and receives freshwater via a 15 m long conduct that runs underneath mountains. Teary spring is historically significant since it provided water to pilgrims coming through the Aidahab harbor many years ago (near Halayeb city, Egyptian). The spring still provides animals and the local Bedouins with fresh water throughout most of the year. Together with migratory birds, many other species of birds dominated this vegetated valley. In Wadi Aideib, it's interesting to observe the amphibian toad \u003cem\u003eSclerophrys dodsoni\u003c/em\u003e jumping around the water springs. To the best of our knowledge, in Egypt, this species only occurs in the Elba region.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe specimens of \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e were randomly collected, then transported to the laboratory of department of zoology, faculty of science, Al-Azhar university, Egypt. Live snails were randomly selected from the population and classified into four size classes (A, B, C, and D), with 10 snails in each class. In each size class, snails were cleaned, weighed and the visceral masses were removed and weighed separately. Other morphometric characteristics of shells, including height, width, the number of whorls, the measurements of the aperture. In addition, the ratio between width and height of shell, and the ratio between aperture length and shell height (Yousif et al. 2009). The samples were identified and classified according to Frandsen (1983), and Rowson and Shaw (2021). Following the measurements with the electronic balance and caliper, random ranks of snails were photographed.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe snails \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e was categorized (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e) according to their sizes into 4 classes A, B, C and D (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). The shape of the shell (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e) is conically elongated, with the length (height) being greater than a third of the width. There are several spiral grooves on the whorls. The investigated snail ranged in size from 12.5 to 16.2 mm in length and 3.8 to 5 mm in width. The fresh shell is a dark green color with distinct 8 whorls, however after cleaning, the color appears to a brownish hue with a dark reddish-brown base and conspicuous reddish-brown flames on the whorls close to the base. The mean weight of \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e ranges from 75 mg in the smallest size category (D) to 128 mg in the largest size category (A), for a total mean of 94.5 mg (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e \u003cb\u003eand Fig.\u0026nbsp;2\u003c/b\u003e). Remarkably, all size classes had the same aperture length of 4 mm, but the width varied from 2.8mm in the smallest size rank to 4 in the largest. The width-to-height ratio of the shell was slightly constant around the value of (0. 30). The identified individuals are all red-rimmed Melania \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller, 1774) belong to Phylum mollusca, Class: gastropoda, Subclass: caenogastropoda, Order: cerithiomorpha, Superfamily: cerithioidea, Family: thiaridae, Genus: \u003cem\u003eMelanoides olivier\u003c/em\u003e, 1804 (Type species: \u003cem\u003eMelanoides fasciolata Olivier\u003c/em\u003e, 1804, =\u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller,1774). Each size group was photographed from the front and back of their apertures (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTraits of Melanoides tuberculata, with 10 individuals for each size class.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeans, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10 for each rank\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal mean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeasured traits\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eA\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eShell height (mm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.97\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eShell width (mm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.32\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumber of whorls\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal weight (mg)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e128\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e97\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e78\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e94.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVisceral mass weight (mg)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eShell weight (mg)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAperture length (mm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAperture width (mm)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRatio between width and height of shell\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.312\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.321\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRatio between aperture length and shell height\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eA large body of research has been explored the marine and terrestrial parts along the red sea(El Kafrawy et al. 2020; Soliman et al. 2021; Mahdy et al. 2022; Hamed et al. 2024; Ghallab et al. 2024) While investigating the aquatic part of Elba protectorate in 2017, a study recorded the first observation of red tide in Egypt (Mahdy et al. 2022), and linked the phenomenon to nutrient-rich discharges from Elba protectorate area. The current study consistently explores the terrestrial part, particularly Wadi Aideib, an interesting one in the Elba mountains. Snails are key producers of aquatic primary production since they are feeding on diatoms, algae, and plants. Snails on the other hand are important food source for fish and are eaten in abundance by waterfowl. Many years ago in Egypt, domestic ducks and geese were thought to act as biological controls for the snails hosting Schistosoma and Fasciola species near freshwater supplies. Experimentally, Yousif et al. (2010) revealed that \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e inhibited the growth of \u003cem\u003eBulinus truncates\u003c/em\u003e and, consequently, its ability to produce the cercaria of Schistosoma haematobium. \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e coloration in the present investigation is consistent with the color documented for specimens of the same species found in numerous other regions. \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e, measuring 7.3 mm in height and 2.3 mm in width, was identified by Orabi and Osman (2015) from Manzala Lagoon, Egypt, which receive a huge amounts of polluted waters from different sources. In contrast, these sizes in the current study are 13.97 mm in height and 4.3 mm in width. Ecological parameters vary greatly between different geographical areas, different biomes, different ecological zones, and even different water bodies. This implies that Elba is an appropriate biotope and provides shelter for a variety of species. Due to its parthenogenic and ovoviparous characteristics, \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e is ideally suited for the invasion of new environments (Appleton et al. 2009). Additionally, it is frequently kept in aquaria and has unintentionally made its way to thermal springs in cooler regions of the temperate areas (Gl\u0026ouml;er 2015). In consistence with the current research, \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e was reported by Gashtarov and Georgiev (2016) from a thermal spring in Bulgaria. Our research indicates that this is the first instance of this species of snail being found in a location like Wadi Aideib on Elba Mountain. According to Abutaha et al. (2019), Gebel Elba receives a small amount of water following winter rains; large granite boulders at higher elevations increase water retention between rocks and the formation of springs in valley beds. Additionally, the summit of Gebel Elba, known as a \"mist oasis\u0026rdquo;, commonly ranks among the wettest places in Egypt because of the amount of precipitation that accumulates there due to the mix of dew, mist, and clouds. At Gebel Elba, there are 14 Wadi, with Wadi Aideib being the most depressed. Wadi Aideib is teeming with birds, other animals, dense grasses and trees such as \u003cem\u003ePlicosepalus acaciae\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eIndigofera spinosa\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCoccinia grandis\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCommicarpus boissieri\u003c/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eDelonix elata\u003c/em\u003e (Abd El-Ghani et al. 2017), due to the passage of torrential water. \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e is long-lived, brood their young internally, parthenogenetic, and viviparous, it exhibits high adaptability and the capacity to endure harsh environmental conditions and populate a new areas (Dillon 2000; Rader et al. 2003; Wingard et al. 2008). Furthermore, \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e can survive without water for longer than two years, however longer drying times reduce their survival rate (Ab\u0026iacute;lio 2002). Also, \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e can survive in arid environments (Mitchell and Brandt 2005), and can tolerate low oxygen levels (Neck 1985). In Biscayne Bay, \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e at water salinity 33\u0026permil; (Wingard et al. 2008). \u003cem\u003eM. tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e was reported to populate freshwater in Rural District, Tanzania at altitudes ranging 696\u0026ndash;895 m (Nzalawahe et al. 2015).Similar study by (Ali and Hausdorf 2017) reported first records of two Land snails, \u003cem\u003ePupoides coenopictus\u003c/em\u003e and a second pupilloid species from Gebel Elba. Considering our observation and climate change as one of the variables affecting species spread, this implied that additional snail and invertebrate species might perhaps be found in Gebel Elba at higher altitudes. Bird life international has classified Gebel Elba as one of Egypt's Important Bird Areas (IBAs) due to the high proportion of breeding birds found there. Numerous migratory birds have been observed to breed in the Gebel Elba protected area (Goodman and Atta 1987), and the rate of nesting is increasing (Dora 2019; Abdelhafez et al. 2020). This may assist in figuring out the reason for the abundance of snails at this high elevation. Furthermore, predation, which is a biological interaction between animals like seed dispersal, may boost the dispersal capability of prey species. land snail species were found in feces samples of the birds \u003cem\u003eZosterops japonicus\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHypsipetes amaurotis\u003c/em\u003e, in addition two aquatic snail species were also detected in feces of \u003cem\u003eMonticola solitarius\u003c/em\u003e (Kawakami et al. 2008). Moreover, \u003cem\u003eTornatellides boeningi\u003c/em\u003e, a gastropod molluscan snail, was reported (Wada et al. 2012) alive after being swallowed and passed through the digestive system of a bird.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eA diverse habitat, namely Elba protectorate, has been found to host \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e. Wadi Aideib is an interesting Wadi because it is densely forested, with many birds and other faunal taxa inhabiting the area. Climate change and environmental circumstances, on the other hand, are the primary reasons why many species invade new habitats. This research leads us to believe that the area will be a promising habitat for new animal and plant species. More research, including genetic and phylogenetic studies, is urgently needed to track the distribution of snails in different regions of Egypt.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and material\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no conflict of interest\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeither people nor organizations provided financing for this research\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026apos; contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAM\u003c/strong\u003e: Conceptualization, methodology, visualization, investigation, data curation, \u003cstrong\u003eREMS\u003c/strong\u003e: Writing original draft, review, and editing. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe appreciate our trip companions Prof. Dr. \u003cstrong\u003eKhaleid F. Abd El-Wakeel\u003c/strong\u003e, Prof. Dr. \u003cstrong\u003eReda A. Ali\u003c/strong\u003e, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, and Dr. \u003cstrong\u003eMahmoud Hassan\u003c/strong\u003e, Al-Azhar University Assiut Branch, Egypt, for their helpful role throughout the field trip and while exploring the area. Also, we would like to thank the residents of the Elba region, especially Mr. (\u003cstrong\u003eEssa El-Beshary\u003c/strong\u003e) for their assistance, guidance, and facilitation of sampling throughout the exploratory trips.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbd El-Ghani MM, Huerta-Mart\u0026iacute;nez FM, Hongyan L, Qureshi R (2017) Plant responses to hyperarid desert environments. Springer, \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbd El-Wakeil KF, Obuid-Allah AH, Mohamed AH, Abd El-Aziz FE-ZA (2013) Community structure of molluscans in River Nile and its branches in Assiut governorate, Egypt. The Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 39 (3):193-198. doi:10.1016/j.ejar.2013.09.002\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbdelhady AA, Abdelrahman E, Elewa AMT, Fan J, Zhang S, Xiao J (2018) Phenotypic plasticity of the gastropod \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e in the Nile Delta: A pollution-induced stabilizing selection. 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The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Science 24 (3, Part 2):815-824. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrs.2021.09.001\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWada S, Kawakami K, Chiba S (2012) Snails can survive passage through a bird\u0026rsquo;s digestive system. Journal of Biogeography 39 (1):69-73. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02559.x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWingard GL, Murray JB, Schill WB, Phillips EC (2008) Red-Rimmed Melania \u003cem\u003e(Melanoides tuberculatus\u003c/em\u003e) - A snail in Biscayne National Park, Florida - Harmful invader or just a nuisance? Fact Sheet. doi:10.3133/fs20083006\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYousif F, El Bardicy S, Ibrahim A, Sleem S (2010) Impact of the freshwater operculate snail \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e on Survival and Egg Production of the planorbid snail \u003cem\u003eBulinus truncates \u003c/em\u003eand on its transmission of \u003cem\u003eSchistosoma haematobium \u003c/em\u003eInfection. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries 14 (2):69-78\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYousif F, Ibrahim A, Sleem S, Elbardicy S, Ayoub M (2009) Morphological and Genetic Analyses of \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata \u003c/em\u003ePopulations in Egypt. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"New record, gastropod, Melanoides tuberculata, Elba National Park, Egypt, Red Sea","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7320447/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7320447/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis research is a part of exploration both terrestrial and aquatic biotopes in southeastern Egypt. Gebel Elba natural protectorate is unlike any other area of Egypt in terms of its biodiversity. Elba Mountain also boasts a lot of magnificent natural springs and wells. One of the interesting tourist attractions is Teary Spring located at 22°12'51\" N, 36°22'52\" E. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that freshwater snail red-rimmed Melania \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata may\u003c/em\u003e be found in a mountain spring at a high altitude at Wadi Aideib. On the spring bed, the snails were observed during a scientific Saharan survey to Elba natural protected area. They were then collected and transported alive to the lab for identification. Using a caliper, some morphometric measurements were conducted, including shell height, shell weight, aperture length, aperture weight and whorls count. Additionally, identification guides were applied to identify the snails. The result indicates that the snail species is red-rimmed Melania \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata \u003c/em\u003ethat\u003cem\u003e belongs\u003c/em\u003eto thiarids gastropod. The average length is about 13.97 mm, 4.32 mm shell width and 8 whorls. The findings of this study strongly suggest further research into \u003cem\u003eMelanoides tuberculata\u003c/em\u003e distribution and its link to environmental changes in various habitats.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"New record of freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) (Mollusca, Gastropoda) inhabiting Teary Spring, Wadi Aideib at Elba National Park, Egypt","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-21 15:18:55","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7320447/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"85400ace-98ef-47e5-b3b2-717ed741b216","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 21st, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-09T10:25:20+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-21 15:18:55","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7320447","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7320447","identity":"rs-7320447","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}