They also need calcium to keep and grow hard shells, so they will consume more some types of plants to get the calcium they require. Economically valuable crops for humans such as cauliflower, cocoa, papaya, peanut, cassava, banana and many other vegetables often become food for the giant African snail. The Giant African Snail eats leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, barks, wood, seeds, grains, nuts, seaweed and even lichens, fungi and other snails. It has such an enormous appetite that it feeds on more than 500 types of plants, including those farmed by humans. This herbivore does not discriminate between living or dead plant matter. Some people turn them loose to get rid of them, and that is where the real trouble starts. Then, soon can appear many munching around and damaging essential crops for humans. It is illegal to have one of them as a pet in the United States because they are one of the most invasive species in the world and they have produced extensive damage to crops in states like Florida, Georgia or Idaho.Īlthough some people may think it is no big deal, they can deposit a lot of eggs, up to 200 every time they deliver a batch, and this can happen in a short span of time. They often end up in unwanted places due to people transporting them, either as pet trade or inadvertently. These areas include among others, the Caribbean and some Pacific islands. The Giant African Snails have been introduced in recent years to several locations and seem to have adapted extremely well. It is capable of living in temperate climates too. In Africa, it lives along the edges of forests but can live on the banks of rivers and streams, shrublands, agricultural areas, plantations, gardens, wetlands and in various urban sites. This snail thrives where the climate is hot and humid. In conclusion, the Giant African snail now dwells on all continents except Antarctica. However, it lives now in Hawaii, Australia, islands of the Caribbean, islands, and regions of Asia, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, New Zealand, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Vanuatu. Image Courtesy: Roberta Zimmerman, USDA APHIS, Distribution and habitatĪlthough native to Africa, from Mozambique to Kenya and Somalia in addition to the nearby islands, this species has been introduced to many parts of the world over time and today can be found naturally in African countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Morocco. They will also spend time inside of their shells when the temperatures begin to dip too low at night for their comfort. The shell is the location where the Giant African Land Snail takes refuge from predators. They have a “muscular foot” that helps them move releasing a mucus while they move to reduce friction and avoid damage to their tissues. It has small teeth that allow snails to scrap the food before eating it. The opening is relatively small.Īn important part of the anatomy of this snail is a structure in the mouth similar to a tongue, which is called the radula. It is usually slightly dark brown or reddish with yellowish vertical stripes. The color is not always the same it depends on the environmental conditions of the site where the snail dwells. The shell has an appearance conical and narrow, with 7 to 9 spirals visible on its surface. The body has two short tentacles and two long ones that have the eyes. The shell of the giant African snail reaches up to 7.8 inches in length and 2.7-3.9 inches in height. This snail that stands out for its large size has easily adapted to life in regions outside its natural habitat and is considered one of the biggest land snails. This species is on the list of the 100 most harmful invasive alien species in the world, but Achatina fulica does not seem to surrender. It is known to eat at least 500 different species of plants. The “ Achatina fulica” is one of the most invasive species in the world and the United States Department of Agriculture consider it as one of the most damaging species for the agriculture and crops in the country. Some of them have been known to live up to 10 years. When they have enough food, and the weather is satisfactory, they tend to live much longer. They have an average lifespan of about 5-7 years. They have a light to dark brown shells with vertical stripes of a darker shade of brown on them. The Giant African Land Snail is one of the largest terrestrial gastropods.
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