Oral shelling of Bulinus spp. (Mollusca: Planorbidae) by the Lake Malaŵi cichlid, Metriaclima lanisticola (Pisces: Cichlidae)

Metriaclima lanisticola (a native cichlid of Lake Malaŵi) was studied under laboratory conditions to evaluate its potential as an agent for the biological control of schistosome intermediate host snails (i.e., Bulinus globosus, Bulinus nyassanus, and Bulinus tropicus). Crushing resistance of the three snail species was evaluated. M. lanisticola orally shelled snails of all species. Although there was no preference among species, fish preferred small to large snails. Crushing resistance of snails revealed that B. nyassanus had the highest resistance.