Chinese mystery snail Cipangopaludina chinensis is a problem invasive non-native species in many parts of the world and was first found in the UK within ditches at Pevensey Levels, Sussex in 2018 and at two lakes at Southampton Common, Hampshire in 2022.
This project provides additional information on the identification of invasive snail species found at Pevensey Levels and Southampton Common SSSIs. A total of 15 snail specimens were collected from these sites and an additional site near the New Forest and identified by DNA sequence analysis and phylogenetic work to ensure that the species was correctly identified at all sites where it is present.
This information will be used to provide evidence for a request by Natural England to have Cipangopaludina chinensis added to the list of invasive species of special concern under the Invasive Alien Species Regulation 2015.