FIRST RECORD OF MELANOIDES TUBERCULATA (MULLER, 1774) (GASTROPODA: PROSOBRANCHIA: THIARIDAE) IN THE STATE OF PARAÍBA (BRAZIL) AND ITS POSSIBLE ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Resumo

This paper relates the first record of Melanoides tuberculata (Muller, 1774) in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. The data concerning the distribution of this species in the State showed that its ability to occupy new ecotopes is very high, because it was found in five places with well established populations, from the littoral zone to the "sertão" of the State. Its distribution is probably a consequence of its release by aquarist and of inadverted introduction into public reservoirs in Northeast Brazil, by means of plants as supplementary foods sources for fish.