Snails and Bivalves

257

258

Snails and Bivalves ――――――――――
Freshwater shellfish is popularly consumed by people along Mekong River. Live, heated, andcooked ones are available in markets, and they are also cooked and served at home daily. Roastedor boiled shellfish are sold at the stall in the city, and one can even eat right there. Among theshellfish sold in market, snails are most widely available both commercially and domesticallybecause they are easily caught in nearby Mizube (water front) such as paddy or marsh. Bivalves
are not as commonly seen as snails, but there are some available in the market, often ones caught inrivers. Not only aquatic snails, but land snails are also consumed.
The study team confirmed
about 40 species (subspecies) including land snails such as Cyclophoridae, Ariophantidae, andaquatic snails such as Pilidae, Viviparidae, Thiaridae and aquatic bivalves such as Unionidae,Cyrenidae. Because it is difficult to identify shellfish at the site, we assume that there are morespecies than the ones we recognized during the study.
The most popular freshwater snail in Mekong river basin would be Applesnail (Ampullariidae) andVivipalidae. Reason for the high popularity is they are abundant and easily caught in thesurrounding areas such as paddy, marsh, and lakes. People are often sighted in water front nearhouse to catch just enough to make dinner. Applesnail is an alien species from Central and SouthAmerica, but they are widely habituated throughout Indochina peninsula and have become one of
the most popularly used snails. However, Applesnail is also known for damaging rice crops and it
is becoming a serious issue as the damage become widespread. Other popular snails other thanApplesnail and Vivipalidae are pleuroceridae, bivalve, and land snails. Tegillarca granosa (relatedto Bloody clam) are small bivalves which have distinctively thick shells and bright red blood.
They are often sold at market and stalls, but we do not include them as local Mizube no Sachi they
are collected in tidal flat and brought inland.
Shellfish introduced in this section are available throughout year, although the ones live in rivers
increase amount of catch during dry season when the water level is low. Paddies dry up during dry
season, and people take the opportunity to dig and collect Vivipalidae and Applesnail. They areoften stir-fried, steamed, or boiled with spices and herbs to rid the strong smell.

259

Morphology of Snails and Bivalves

SnailApex

Shell height

AperturBivalve

Shell height

Shell length260

Order: Architaenioglossa
Family: Cyclohphoridae

Cyclophoridae spp.
LA

Hoy hom

KH

Kchong heinTH

Hoy ma la youVNOcỐcJP

Yama-tanishi

ヤマタニシ科の複数種

Remarks

Basic Information
It is distributed in Indo-China, mainland China, Hainan
Island (China), Taiwan, Batan Island (the Philippines), andJapan. It is a type of gastropod. Although terrestrial, it isCyclophorus sp. ( cf. sogmaensis )23 Jul. 2010 Near Wat Phou,Champasak, Laos

different from the common snail as it has a lid on the shell
opening and eyes on the bottom of its antennae. The
opening of the shell is rather large and the edge is thick. It
has no gills. It is found in between fallen leaves in theshades of lowland to the mountains.
Use
They are prepared in the following ways: cooking themwith shells-on in salted and spiced hot water, roasting themwith the shells-on and dip them in chili sauce, or put inCyclophorus sp. ( cf. sogmaensis )23 Jul. 2010 Near Wat Phou, Champasak,Laosa soup. In Laos, they are boiled with Chinese star anise and dipped in chili sauce and served. Thesavory aroma of star anise is tantalizing.
The team confirmed its use as food in Cambodia and Laos. Large amounts are consumed especiallyin Southern Laos. During a market research, 4 species of Cyclophorus were confirmed as beingsold. It is found in open markets alongside the suburban roads, and more so than in big markets inthe central city. Its collection is done by hand, picking individuals on tree trunks in the forests.

261

14 Sep. 2011

Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

23 Jul. 2010

Near Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos

23 Jul. 2010

Cyclophorus spp.
Near Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos

14 Sep. 2011

Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

14 Sep. 2011

Cyclophorus sp. 3
Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

14 Sep. 2011

Cyclophorus sp. 2
Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

Cyclophorus sp. 2

14 Sep. 201114 Sep. 2011

262

Khammouane, Laos

Cyclophorus sp. 2
Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

23 Jul. 2010

Cyclophorus sp. 1
Near Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos

23 Jul. 2010

Cyclophorus sp. 1
Near Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos

14 Sep. 2011

Cyclophorus sp. 2
Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

14 Sep. 2011

Cyclophorus sp. 2
Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

14 Sep. 2011

Cyclophorus sp. 3
Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

14 Sep. 2011

Cyclophorus sp. 3
Kok Market, Khammouane, Laos

263

Order: Architaenioglossa
Family: Ampullariidae

Pomacea canaliculata
LAHoy pakkouangKH

Kchong sraeTH

Hoy cherryVNOc buou vangỐc bươu vàng

JPSukumi-ringogai

スクミリンゴガイ

Remarks

Basic Information
It originated in Central and South America, and has beentransplanted in parts of Asia since the 1980s. It is a type of

17 Feb .2010

Song, Champasak, Laossnail with the shell length of 80mm. The shell is close tospherical and its color varies from yellow-brown to blackish
brown. Some shells have stripes. It is found in ricepaddies, marshes, waterways, rivers, ponds, and lakes. It
can tolerate drought, and survives the dry season byburying itself in the mud. It is omnivorous and prefers soft
rice leaves which cause crop damage in various areas.

It islabeled as one of the 100 World’s Worst Invasive AlienSpecies.

14 Nov. 2008 Dong Makkai Market,
Vientiane Capital, Laos

Its eggs are bright pink. Females go above water to lay eggs on plants, stakes, or walls ofwaterways. Eggs hatch in about 2 weeks.
UseAmong the edible shells, this snail is as popular as river sanails. It is commonly found in markets
as well. It is very easily collected which makes it a popular dish in many homes. It is roasted orboiled and served with chili sauce and fish sauce, or cooked together with herbs such as tamarindand lemongrass. Kebabs of roasted snails seasoned with MSG or fish sauce are sold atmarkets. Sometimes it is boiled and fed to cattle and hogs. It is collected in nearby rice paddies
and marshes. It can be picked by hand or scooped with nets or colanders. When using a net orcolander, one has to sort snails from other aquatic species. Farmers frequently go out to collect it ina rice paddy as a means to collect food as well as to prevent it from feeding on newly sprouted riceplants. Other species of the genus Pila that resembles the shape of this snail are confirmed inCambodia.

264

14 Nov. 2008

25 Jul. 2010

AlbinoNapuheuy, Vientiane Province,
Laos

11 Oct. 2010

Vientiane Province, Laos

26 Nov. 200919 Nov. 2009 Thong Khan Kham Market,Vientiane Capital, Laos

01 Sep. 2010

Phonekeo, Vientiane Province,
Laos

Egg mass
Dong Borng, Vientiane Capital,
Laos

28 Jul. 2008 Thong Khan Kham Market,
Vientiane Capital, Laos

Vientiane Capital, Laos

12 Dec. 2010

265

Vientiane, Laos

20 Dec. 2010

Phonekeo, Vientiane Province,Laos

24 Jul. 2008

Khun Neua, Vientiane Province,Laos

27 Feb. 2009

Pila sp. 1
Kampong Thom, Cambodia

09 Nov. 2008

Xiangmouak, Louang Phrabang,Laos

10 Apr. 2009

Ra ka thnorl, Takeo, Cambodia

05 Jan. 2009

Pila sp. 3
06 Jan. 2009 Vi hear Kphours, Kampong
Cham, Cambodia

30 Jan. 2009

266

Pila polita

Pila sp. 2
Kampong Cham, Cambodia

Pila sp. 4
Traw Paing Roung, Takeo,Cambodia

Order: Architaenioglossa
Family: Viviparidae

Viviparidae spp.
LAHoy choup

KH

Kchau k’hai，Kchau dong，Kchau tnaot

THHoy khom

VNOc dangỐc đắngJPTanishi

タニシ科の複数種

Remarks

Basic Information
It is a water spiral snail with shell length of 20 to80mm. The opening is covered with a thick lid. As it

Filopaludina (Filopaludina) sp. 105 Jan. 2009 Kampong Cham, Cambodia

matures, the shell around the opening becomes black andthicker. Its habitats are lakes, ponds, rice paddies, andrivers. The fertilization occurs in vivo and females raise
eggs until they grow into young snails and then give birth.
Use
It is one of the most familiar and important water spiralsnails as food.

Most of the time, it is boiled to beserved. After it is boiled with its shell on, people pull out
the meat with a toothpick, or suck the meat out from24 Nov. 2009 Phonekeo, Vientiane
Province, Laosthe shell. It is commonly seen in the market, but also very popularly caught and consumed athome. Collection is done by hand, picking them while walking along the shore. During the dry
season, it buries itself in the mud of a rice paddy.

People scrape and scoop the mud at the bottom ofa rice plant to find the snail. Also, in the dry season when the pond is dry, large amounts of water
spiral snails can be collected. Water spiral snails that are collected in the study areas are multiple
species. People eat any snails that are large enough.

267

15 Sep. 2007

Tonle Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia

25 Jun. 2010

Trochotaia trochoides

Dong Makkai, Vientiane Province,
Laos

08 Nov. 2008 Tha Heua Market,
Louang Phrabang, Laos

16 Jan. 2013 Bang Lam Phoo Market,
Khon Kaen, Thailand

24 Nov. 2009 Mueng Song,Vientiane Province, Laos

24 Nov. 2009 Mueng Song,Vientiane Province, Laos

24 Nov. 2009 Mueng Song,Vientiane Province, Laos

24 Nov. 2009 Mueng Song,Vientiane Province, Laos268

06 Dec. 2009

Filopaludina (Filopaludina) sumatrensis

Vientiane Capital, Laos

27 Feb. 2009

Filopaludina (Filopaludina) sumatrensis subsp.
17 Feb. 2010

Filopaludina (Filopaludina) sumatrensis subsp. 2

1Song, Champasak, Laos

24 Jun. 2009

Filopaludina (Siamopaludina) maekoki

24 Jun. 2009

Kampong Thom, Cambodia

Phonekeo, Vientiane Province, Laos

Filopaludina (Siamopaludina) sp. ( cf. martensi )Phonekeo, Vientiane Province,Laos17 Feb. 2010

Filopaludina (Siamopaludina) martensi
cambodjensis

23 Jun. 2009269

Dao Heuang Market, Champasak,
Laos

Idiopoma dissimilis

Mueng Song, Vientiane Province,
LaosIdiopoma ingallsiana

26 Feb.2009

26 Feb.2009

Kampong Thom, Cambodia

18 Jul. 2010

Mekongia sp. 2

Kampong Thom, Cambodia

25 Jun. 2010

270

Mekongia sp. 1
Near Central Market, Kampong
Cham, Cambodia

Trochotaia trochoides

Dong Makkai, Vientiane Capital,
LaosOrder: Mesogastoropoda
Family: Thiaridae

Thiaridae spp.
LA

Hoy lekchan

KHCha chraingTH

Hoy chedi

VN

Oc lenỐc lenJPTougata-kawanina

トウガタカワニナ科の複数種

Remarks

Basic Information
It is a type of snail. The shape of the shell varies fromspindle to a long narrow cylinder, which is narrower andlonger than the shell of a Viviparidae spp. The lid has aBrotia manningi
10 Jun. 2009 Xiengngeun, Louang
Phabang, Laosleather-like texture. There are two types; one lay eggs andthe other keeps the eggs inside and when they grow into
young snails they gives birth.
Use
Compared to Viviparidae spp. or Pomacea canaliculata, it isless often used, but still it is commonly found as food. It issold live at markets, and cooked ones are available at

25 May 2009

Louang Phabang, Laosstalls. It is boiled to be served most of the time. The ones sold in the stalls are often seasoned withchili and are spicy. It is collected by grouping hands in small rivers or waterways. In the ricepaddies in flatland, Viviparidae spp. or Pomacea canaliculata are more often found because they areeasier to collect. Iin the mountain areas where there are less rice paddies, Thiaridae spp. can beused more often. Although Luan Pulabang in Laos is in a mountain area where there are not manyrice paddies, large amounts of Brotia manningi were collected in nearby small rivers and sold atmarkets.
Larger type of genus Brotia, is used more often, but use of Tarebia granifera and Thiara scabra areconfirmed as well. However, those smaller types of snails are not selectively used, rather, mixed inwith the larger type of snails.

271

Brotia manningi
25 May 2009

26 May 2009 Nam Ming, Louang Phrabang, Laos

Phoshy Market, Louang Phrabang, LaosBrotia manningi

26 May 2009 Nam Ming, Louang Phrabang, Laos

26 May 2009 Nam Ming, Louang Phrabang, Laos

Brotia sp. ( cf. binodosa )27 Feb. 2009

Brotia sp. (cf. microsculpta )Kampong Thom, Cambodia

18 Feb. 2010

Dao Heuang Market, Champasak, Laos

May 2009

Vangvieng, Vientiane Province, Laos

Tarebia granifera
23 Jun. 2009

Thiara scabraSong, Vientiane Province, Laos

272

Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Ariophantidae

Hemiplecta sp. ( cf. distincta )LA

Hoy khao leuane，Hoy satang

KH

Kchong hien，Kchong dua

TH

Hoy duea

VNOc moỐc mỡJPNeptune-oomaimaiネプチューンオオマイマイ属の一種

Remarks

Basic Information
It is a type of snail without a lid. Its eyes are located at thetip of its antennae. It is mainly herbivore, but sometimes
will eat particles of dirt and shells of other snails. Mating

Hemiplecta sp. ( cf. distincta )23 Jul. 2010 Near Wat Phou,Champasak, Laos

occurs annually during the late dry period to the beginningof the rain period.
Use
It was spotted at a market in southern Laos. It is roasted,steamed, or boiled with its shell and served with chilisauce. The boiled ones felt slimy in one’s mouth and could
not taste the snail itself.
Other land snail that is confirmed as a food source isCamaena sp. Its preparation is same as this species.

273

Hemiplecta sp. ( cf. distincta )19 Feb. 2010 Thakhek, Khammouane,Laos

Hemiplecta sp. ( cf. distincta )23 Jul. 2010

Near Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos

23 Jul. 2010

Near Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos

20 Jan. 2013

Hemiplecta sp.
Noun Market, Champasak, Laos

Hemiplecta sp. ( cf. distincta )23 Jul. 2010

Hemiplecta sp. ( cf. distincta )Camaena sp.

11 Oct. 2011

Near Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos

19 Feb. 2010

Thakhek, Khammouane, Laos

20 Jan. 2013

Hemiplecta sp.
Noun Market, Champasak, Laos

Camaena sp.

Laos

11 Oct. 2011

274

Laos

Order: Unionoida
Family: Unionidae

Unionidae spp.
LA

Hoy kii，Hoy xai

KH

KromTH
VN

Ngao

Ngao

JP

Ishi-gai

イシガイ科の複数種

Remarks

Basic Information
It is a type of bivalve with a medium to large shell size. The
shapes vary from egg-shaped to triangular. Pearlescence

Cristaria sp.(cf. plicata)
18 Feb. 2010 PakPeo , Champasak, Laoinside the shell is extremely bright. Unionidae spp. can bedivided into two broad groups: one with teeth and one
without teeth. All the species live in fresh water, between
rocks or under mud.
Use
It is boiled with Tamarind leaves to be served. People likethis dish with beer. It is collected mostly in rivers, using
hand or hand-held nets. It is not seen in markets as often,
however, if there is a pile of Unionidae spp in the market, it
will contain several species and many types of shells
are mixed.

275

19 Nov. 2009

Hou Kua Market, Vientiane
Capital, Laos24 Nov. 2009

Phonekeo, Vientiane Province, Laos

Ensidens ingallsiana

26 Feb. 2009

Kampong Thom, Cambodia

18 Feb. 2010

Physunio cambodiensis

May 2009 Nalao, Vientiane Province, Laos

13 Feb. 2010

Pseudodon vondembuschianus chaperi

29 Jun. 200918 Feb. 2010

Lak14 Market, Champasak, Laos

Hyriopsis delaportei

Lak14 Market, Champasak, Laos

Pilsbryconcha exilis

Dong Makkai Market, Vientiane
Capital, Laos

Pseudodon vondembuschianus ellipticus

Dong Makkai Market, Vientiane
Capital, Laos

29 Jun. 2009

276Dong Makkai Market, Vientiane
Capital, Laos

26 Feb. 200912 Feb. 2010

Scabies crispate

Kampong Thom , Cambodia

24 Jun. 2009

Uniandra sp. 2
Kok Sa Moi, Louang Phrabang,
Laos

277

Uniandra sp. 1
Phonekeo, Vientiane Province,LaosOrder: Veneroida

Corbicula spp.

Family: Corbiculidae

LA

Hoy kii，Hoy xai，Hoy lep
maa

KH

Liah bangTH

Hoy saiVN

HenHế nJP

Shizimi-gai

シジミ属の複数種

Remarks

Basic Information
It is a small bivalve which is smaller than Unionidae spp..
It is often found buried in the sand under the water.

Corbicula fluminea
29 Jun. 2009 Dong Makkai Market,Vientiane Capital, LaosUse
It is eaten boiled with the shell-on, in the same way as the Unionidae spp.. Often times it is boiled
with spices and herbs such as Tamarind leaves. It is collected by hand and hand-held nets.

03 Nov. 200806 Nov. 2008

Central Market, Phnom Penh,Cambodia

14 Sep. 2007

Neak Loeung, Kandal, Cambodia

278

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Corbicula fluminea f. insularis

29 Jun. 200918 Jul. 2010

Dong Makkai Market, Vientiane
Capital, Laos

18 Jul. 2010

Corbicula sp. 1
Near Central Market, Kampong
Cham, Cambodia

18 Jul. 2010

279

Corbicula moreletiana

Near Central Market, Kampong
Cham, Cambodia

Corbicula sp. 2
Near Central Market, Kampong
Cham, Cambodia

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