First Record of Rumina Decollata (Linnaeus, 1758), a Terrestrial Snail, in the Middle Euphrates Region, Iraq

Background: Rumina decollate is a terrestrial mollusc known for its wide distribution in the Mediterranean region, the original home of the snail. Although snails are widely distributed in the Middle East, they have not yet been recorded in the Middle Euphrates region of Iraq. This study recorded the first confirmed occurrence of R. decollata in this region, which means expanding the known geographical range of this snail. Method: Snail samples were collected from the areas of Al-Hussainiya/Karbala, Kufa/Najaf, and Al-Shanafiya/Diwaniya, and the number of snails was recorded according to the collection site and in three replicates using two methods: direct manual collection and wet traps. The samples were identified morphologically and compared with the approved taxonomic keys, which confirmed their identification at the Natural History Museum at the University of Baghdad. Temperature and humidity standards were also used, and the soil texture was examined in relation to environmental factors. Results: It was found that the Kufa/Najaf region was found to be the most widespread region of the Middle Euphrates for this type of snail, while the Husseiniyah/Karbala region was the least widespread. This is because of the higher humidity in Kufa/Najaf than in Husseiniya/Karbala. The F value was 11.46 (representing the difference between groups compared to the variance within each group). The p-value was 0.0089 (p < 0.05). This snail species prefers humid areas more than others, in addition to the availability of rice and wheat farms in Kufa, which increases humidity levels more than in the other 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 snail on climate and soil factors, as well as the availability of food, and most of the results were consistent with previous studies. We recommend conducting further research to evaluate the impact of this species on ecosystems and local plants. This new discovery contributes to our understanding of the distribution and environmental role of R. decollata in this type of habitat.