The apple snail is a keystone species in Pantanal's ecosystem.

When the wetlands are flooded once a year, the grass and other plants will eventually die and start to decay.

Unlike other decomposing animals, the apple snail have both gills and lungs, making it possible for them to thrive in anoxic waters where they recycle the nutrients.

To get oxygen they extend a long snorkel to the water surface, and pumps air into their lungs.

[2][3][4] Pomacea lineata is used as a zootherapeutical product for the treatment of asthma, sprains, boils and ulcer in traditional Brazilian medicine in the Northeast of Brazil.