Pila africana (Martens, 1886)

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Pila wernei
Pila africana.
(picture not licenced under creative commons)
Pila wernei
Pila africana.
(picture not licenced under creative commons)
Pila wernei
Pila africana.
(picture not licenced under creative commons)

Shell: The shell of this medium to large African ampullarid reaches 45-55 mm height. The spire is relatively short and the shell opening is rounded at the bottom and sharper at the top. The umbilicus is medium wide and deep, the lip is somewhat thickened.
The colour of the shell is dark brown with faint black spiral bands.
Operculum: almost 2 times higher than wide, calcified at the inside in older snails.
Body: ?
Eggs: The calcareous, white eggs are deposited above the waterline.

Food: Various water plants.
Behaviour: Prefers small and shaded forest streams with drifting vegetation.
Distribution:
Tropical Africa: liberia to Ghana and Congo (Zaire river) to Sierra Leone and Cameroon.
Comparable with the larger Pila wernei that inhabits the Nile river system fom Egypt to tropical Africa.
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