摘要：Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) is a widely distributed aquatic gastropod, primarily found in tropical regions, which has also invaded geothermally heated waters in temperate regions. The spread of M. tuberculata globally has primarily been in association with the aquarium trade and aquatic plants. In New Zealand, M. tuberculata is known from both the aquarium trade and from one non-indigenous population in a geothermal stream. To date, the origins of M. tuberculata in the aquarium trade in New Zealand—or elsewhere—has not been systematically examined genetically, and it has not been confirmed whether New Zealand’s nonindigenous population is genetically similar to, or originated from, individuals sold in aquarium stores. We examined the origins of New Zealand M. tuberculata, in the aquarium trade, and in the established non-indigenous population using COI marker sequences. Representatives of M. tuberculata in New Zealand have not originated from a single source; two distinct genetic clades were identified for individuals, with the origins of each inferred to be from Asia and Africa. The non-indigenous population and individuals sourced from one private aquarium owner were found to originate in Asia, and are genetically similar to those collected from Singapore, one of the most significant countries globally for the culturing and distribution of aquarium species. The remaining collections, from a display aquarium and three online suppliers in various New Zealand locations, were most similar genetically to populations native to Lake Malawi and Tanganyika, and non-indigenous populations from Australia. Overall, as M. tuberculata is an obligate parthenogen, each independently introduced clone may be considered a distinct non-indigenous taxon. We recommend further systematic genetic analyses of individuals in the aquarium trade elsewhere, to assess more fully the diversity and origins of Melanoides being transported in the aquarium trade.
