What do we know about Cornu (Cornu) aspersum from Argentina?

Cornu (Cornu) aspersum, commonly known as the garden snail, is a Mediterranean land snail that has been widely introduced and is considered invasive in several regions. Despite its occurrence across the Americas, molecular studies have been limited to populations from the United States and Chile. This study characterized specimens of Cornu (C.) aspersum from Buenos Aires City (Argentina) using an integrative taxonomic approach that included shell morphology, anatomical dissections, and COI-based phylogenetic analyses. As a result, at least three clades were identified, two of which are present in South America, while the other occurs in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The South American clades are: (a) the Chilean clade, which clustered with specimens from Europe, Oceania, Africa and North America; and (b) the Argentine clade, which clustered with sequenced individuals from Europe. Little is known about the anatomy of genetically characterized specimens. Based on both the literature and collection material, variation in shell coloration was observed, whereas no differences in shell morphology were detected. Slight differences were found in the genitalia, as well as in radular morphology and formula. This study suggests that specimens from Chile and Argentina may have been introduced from Europe (Chilean: France and Switzerland; Argentine: Iberian Peninsula and possibly France). Moreover, it highlights the importance of combining molecular, anatomical, and morphological approaches to determine whether morphological and anatomical differences exist among clades.