Exotic freshwater mollusks in Chile

The here reported exotic freshwater mollusk species were collected in wetlands, commercial aquariums, or were obtained from government officials who intercepted some exotic species at customs offices. Other records came from the specialized literature. These species are Pomacea bridgesii; Helobia sp.; Thiara (Melanoides) tuberculata; Melanoides maculata; Physa sp., Physella venustula and Biomphalaria sp. It is not clear how Melanoides maculata, found in the Rio Lluta, reached Chile. The exotic species collected could expand their ranges in Chilean territory given global environmental and climate change or the rises in temperature produced in the Chilean coastal areas by the oceanographic El Nino events. Specially important are the subtropical mollusk species which are intermediate hosts/vectors of animal-borne parasitic diseases. The main route of introduction for these exotic freshwater species of mollusks has been commercial trade, either voluntary or deliberate, specially due to the increase in commercial activity in the south-eastern Pacific.