LYMNEA TRUNCATULA (MOLLUSCA LYMNAEIDAE) I N THE RICE FIELDS OF EASTERN SPAIN

Snail sampling in the rice fields surrounding the lake of the Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain) has revealed the presence of six aquat ic Snail species: Lymnaea truncatula, L. palustris, L. peregra, L. aur icularia, Gyraulus sinensis and Physella acuta. This is the first repo rt of L. auricularia in this geographical zone. A qualitative descript ion of the habitats of L. truncatula in the rice fields during the yea r is givin, and a quantitative study is made of the relative abundance of each snail species per square meter, and of L. truncatula density at the different prospecting points is made, during all seasons of the year. The results confirm the presence of L. truncatula in the rice f ields throughout the year, with the exception of April and September - during human activity in the fields (agricultural tilling and burning practices) - and August, when the fields naturally dry out.