author(s)
A Latchumikanthan, PG Vimalraj, P Pavan Kumar, A Prasanna Vadhana, MV Jithin and C Soundararajan

abstract
Ponds, lakes and water bodies near paddy cultivation lands were examined for presence of fresh water snails from some parts of Union territory of Puducherry. A total of 439 snails were collected from during the period from September, 2015 to August, 2016 to know the type and intensity of different species of snails. The collected snails were identified as Lymnaea luteola, Pila globosa, Bellamyia sp., and Indoplanorbis exustus based on their shell morphological features. Among the various types of snails, Lymnaea luteola (41.68%) was found to be more followed by Pila globosa (33.25%), Bellamyia sp., (15.71%) and Indoplanorbis exustus (9.33%). Snails were found attached to the vegetation in these water bodies and the eggs of snail were enclosed in a slimy material attached to the water plants. Egg masses vary in the egg numbers varying from 30 to 50 eggs. Immature/ juvenile stages of snails were more in group and attached to roots, leaves and stem of the different water plants. Snails were found mostly on water plants Egeria sp. (Anacharis), Eichornia sp. (Water hyacinth), Ceratophyllum sp. (Hornwort), Ipomoea asarifolia (Palachedi) and Nelumbo nucifera (Indian lotus). Few cercariae released from infected Lymnaea luteola snails were identified as amphistome cercariae confirming snails as intermediate hosts for parasitic trematodes.