Aquatic Invasions (2015) Volume 10, Issue 2: 157–168 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/ai.2015.10.2.04 Open Access © 2015 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2015 REABIC Research Article Ferrissia fragilis (Tryon, 1863): a freshwater snail cryptic invader in Brazil revealed by morphological and molecular data Luiz Eduardo Macedo de Lacerda1*, Caroline Stahnke Richau1, Cesar R.L. Amaral2, Dayse Aparecida da Silva2, Elizeu Fagundes Carvalho2 and Sonia Barbosa dos Santos1 1Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Malacologia Límnica e Terrestre, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, PHLC, sala 525/2 CEP: 20550-900,Brazil 2Departamento de Ecologia, Laboratório de Diagnóstico por DNA. Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, PHLC, CEP: 20550-900, Brazil E-mail:
[email protected] (LEML),
[email protected] (CSR),
[email protected] (CRLA),
[email protected] (DAS),
[email protected] (EFC),
[email protected] (SBS) *Corresponding author Received: 23 July 2014 / Accepted: 23 December 2014 / Published online: 19 January 2015 Handling editor: Vadim Panov Abstract The results of our study confirm the occurrence of the cryptic invader Ferrissia fragilis (Tryon, 1863) in Brazil, a species of worldwide geographical distribution and with poorly known morphology that is pervasive in several countries. Specimens were collected in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. We describe their morphology, and analyze the similarity of haplotypes generated from these samples with those previously obtained for F. fragilis. Shell morphology was compared by light and scanning microscopy. Soft parts of stained dissected specimens were studied under the stereomicroscope.