An average
population density was 36 individuals per square meter in Dianchi Lake in 1940s,[7] 0.7 individuals per square meter in 1990s[7] and 0.068 individuals per square meter in Dianchi Lake in 2012.[7]
According to the population ecology research by Song et al. (2013),[7] the population of will collapse in the
Dian Lake in 2015.[7]
Description
The width of the shell is up to 64.3 mm. The height of the shell is up to 94.7 mm.[5]
Shu et al. (2010) provided details about the shell and about the
radula.[4]
Margarya melanioides is a
dioecious species.[7] Females are
ovoviviparous and one female lay 5-6 eggs per year.[7] The newborn shell is about 8 mm in height.[7] The snail will reach maturity in one year in a shell height about 30 mm.[7]
This species is extensively harvested as a human food source, but harvesting is one of its threats.[7]
References
^
abcdAldridge D., Di L., Jiang Y. & McIvor A. (2009).
"Margarya melanoides" (sic!). In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 February 2014.
^
abcShu, F.; Köhler, F.; Wang, H. (2010). "On the shell and radular morphology of two endangered species of the genus Margarya Nevill, 1877 (Gastropoda: Viviparidae) from lakes of the Yunnan Plateau, Southwest China". Molluscan Research. 30 (1): 17–24.
^Chen Y. X., Zhang N. G., Zhang W. & Li J. K. (1996). "The karyotype study of Margarya yaungtsunghaiensis and M. melanioides (Viviparidae)". Zoological Research17: 94-96. (In Chinese with English abstract)
(in Chinese) Zhang L. (1986). "Study on the morphological variation of Margarya melanioides and M. monodi from Dian-Chi, Yunnan." Transactions of the Chinese Society of Malacology2: 65–71. (In Chinese with English abstract)