BioInvasions Records (2018) Volume 7, Issue 1: 15–19 Open Access DOI: https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2018.7.1.03 © 2018 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2018 REABIC Rapid Communication Correcting misidentifications and first confirmation of the globally-invasive Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 (Gastropoda: Physidae) in Thailand and Laos Ting Hui Ng1,*, Yanin Limpanont2, Yupa Chusongsang2, Phirapol Chusongsang2 and Somsak Panha1,* 1Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand 2Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Author e-mails:
[email protected] (THN),
[email protected] (YL),
[email protected] (YC),
[email protected] (PC),
[email protected] (SP) *Corresponding authors Received: 11 September 2017 / Accepted: 14 December 2017 / Published online: 27 January 2018 Handling editor: Kenneth Hayes Abstract Introduced freshwater gastropods in the Indo-Burmese region may be under-documented owing to a lack of research attention. For the first time, we report on the widespread establishment of the globally invasive freshwater snail Physa acuta (Physidae) in Thailand and Laos, including decades old records that had previously been misidentified as Camptoceras jiraponi (Planorbidae). Occurrence of Physa acuta as hitchhikers among ornamental aquatic plants suggests that the ornamental trade was a likely introduction pathway of the species into Thailand. That a globally invasive species was able to spread unnoticed for such a long period of time highlights the need for countries like Thailand to focus research efforts on prevention and early detection of introduced species, in addition to increasing our understanding of native biodiversity.