Bulinus (Physopsis) africanus africanus (Krauss) in Tanganyika

Abstract

SNAILS of the sub-genus Bulinus (Physopsis) are known to be the principal intermediate hosts of Schistosoma haematobium in East Africa. There are several species present, and of these B.(P.) africanus is represented by B.(P.) africanus ovoideus (Bourguignat) which is widely distributed throughout the area. Mandahl-Barth¹ suspected that B.(P.) africanus africanus (Krauss), the subspecies found in southern Africa, also occurred in southern Tanganyika. He considered that the description of ‘Physopsis rekawaensis’, from Lake Rukwa in south-west Tanganyika, did not differessentially from the typical B. (P.) africanus africanus. This communication records the finding of B.(P.) africanus africanus along the Little Ruaha River valley near Iringa (altitude 5,500 ft. above sea-level) in the southern highlands of Tanganyika. Dr. Mandahl-Barth kindly identified these snails.