The South American brackish water snail Heleobia charruana is native to the eastern coast of South America (Brazil, Uruguay). The species was first recorded in Belgium (Port of Antwerp) in 2017, although earlier occurrences cannot be ruled out. The snail was likely introduced via ballast water into the Thames estuary (United Kingdom), from where it presumably spread naturally to the European mainland (Belgium, Netherlands). The species tolerates a wide range of salinity and is primarily found in sheltered brackish water habitats, where it lives on various substrates, ranging from muddy sediment to stones. |
