ABSTRACT

 Background: Rumina decollata is a terrestrial mollusc known for its wide distribution in the Mediterranean regions, the original home of the snail. Although the snail is widely distributed in the Middle East, it has not yet been recorded in the Middle Euphrates region in Iraq. This study records the first confirmed occurrence of R. decollata in this region, which means expanding the known geographical range of this snail. Method: Samples were collected from the areas of (Al-Hussainiya/Karbala, Kufa/Najaf, and Al-Shanafiya/Diwaniya) and the numbers of snails were recorded according to the place of collection by two methods: direct manual collection and wet traps. The samples were diagnosed morphologically and compared with the established taxonomic keys, confirming their diagnosis from the Natural History Museum of the University of Baghdad. Results: It was found that the Kufa/Najaf region is the most widespread area in the Middle Euphrates with this type of snail, and the Al-Hussainiya/Karbala region is the least widespread area. This is due to the fact that the humidity in Kufa/Najaf is higher than in Al-Hussainiya/Karbala, and this type of snail prefers humid areas more than others, in addition to the availability of rice and wheat farms in Kufa, which raises the humidity levels more than the rest of the two regions. Conclusions: This new record indicates new environmental effects, especially with regard to the molluscs available in the Middle Euphrates region and agricultural practices in the region, in addition to the impact of this type of snails on the climate and soil factors, as well as the availability of food mainly, and most of the results were consistent with previous studies. We recommend conducting more research to evaluate the impact of this species on the ecosystem and local plants. This new discovery also contributes to our understanding of the distribution and environmental role of R. decollata in this type of habitat.