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Species record

Giant African Land Snail

Achatina fulica

Explore the Giant African Land Snail (Achatina fulica) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

Native to East Africa, Achatina fulica has spread to many warm regions beyond its native range, including Southeast Asia and islands in the Pacific and Caribbean. Human transport, including the pet trade, has helped move it to new places. Where it establishes, its broad diet of hundreds of plants—including crops and ornamentals—can damage gardens and agriculture and affect local vegetation. It can carry rat lungworm; people can become infected by accidentally consuming infected snails or slugs, or vegetables contaminated with the parasite. Rat lungworm infection can cause a rare form of meningitis.

Classification in this archive

Animals › Mollusca › Gastropoda › Stylommatophora › Achatinidae › Achatina

Habitat and distribution

Habitat
Tropical and subtropical climates, especially humid conditions, Human-modified places such as gardens, farms, and other disturbed land, Introduced island habitats in the Pacific and Caribbean
Regions in this record
Africa
Countries in this record
Ghana, Nigeria

Conservation status

The Ark records: Least Concern.

Demonstration note

  • Its shell can grow to nearly 20 cm (8 in) long—about the length of a school ruler.
  • It eats more than 500 kinds of plants, including crops and garden plants.
  • It glides on a muscular foot and leaves a slippery mucus trail.
  • It can reproduce on its own and lay egg clutches every 2 to 3 months.

Sources and attribution