GIANT URUGUAY RIVER SNAIL: The snails that Uruguay own it's name.

POMELLA MEGASTOMA

OTHERS NAMES
Caracol de rio, Caracol gigante del Rio Uruguay.

En Uruguay habitas en fondos duros del Rio uruguay y en algunos de sus afluentes.
in uruguay it live in hard bottoms of the Uruguay River and in some of its tributaries.

Es una especie endemica del rio Uruguay y algunos afluentes.
It is an endemic species of Uruguay River and some tributaries.

Los huevos rozados que se ven adheridos a juncos y troncos a orillas de charcos, lagunas y pequenos cursos de agua son puestos por caracoles  y no por ranas y sapos.
The rubbed eggs that are adhered to reeds and trunks on the banks of puddles, lagoons and small water sources are placed by snails and not by frog and toads

El nombre de la especie (Megastoma) refiere a la abertura del caparazon por donde sale el animal.
The name of the species (Megastoma) refers to the opening of the carapace through which the animal leaves.

Este caracol  de agua dulce es el de mayor tamano registrado en Uruguay.
This freshwater snails is the largest recorded in Uruguay.

Es uno de los mas grandes del mundo y puede llegar a medir 15 cm.
It is one of the largest in the world and can reach 15 cm.

Esta adaptado para vivir en aguas corrientes.
It is adapted to live in running waters.

Con su gran pie se adhiere a las rocas de los saltos y correderas de los rios.
With its great foot it adheres to the rocks of the jumps and runners of the rivers.

Se alimenta de las algas que raspa en las rocas con su lengua especializada.
It feeds on the algae that scrapes on the rocks with its specialized tong.

Suele encontrarse en las orillas de agua, pegado a rocas y troncos.
It is usually found on the banks of water, attached to rocks and trunks.

En la reproduccion, cientos de huevos son depositaods por las hembras, en masas racimosas de color rosado palido.
In the reproduction, hundreds of eggs are deposited by the females, in cluster of pale pink color.

Es probable que Uruguay deba su nombre a estos caracoles. Los Guaranies llamaban Urugu a unos caracoles de rio grandes como un puno (que asaban) y la terminacion "I" refiere a rio. Asi Uruguay, puede interpretarse como rio de los caracoles.
It is likely that Uruguay owes its name to these snails. The Guaranies called Urugu a big river snails as a fist (that roasted) and the ending "I" refers to river. Thus Uruguay, can be interpreted as a River of Snails.

El caracol de rio es un molusco gasteropode de agua dulce.
The river snail is a freshwater gastropod mollusk.

Su caparazon es globoso y de color marron claro.
Its shell is globose and light brown.

Habita en toda America del Sur.
It inhabits all south America.