Giant African land snail

Lissachatina fulica · The giant African land snail is one of the largest land snails, native to East Africa but now introduced to many warm parts of the world.

Also called Giant East African Snail.

Giant African land snail
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
Giant African land snail
Photo: Alexander R. Jenner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Giant African land snail
Photo: NireshaJAththa, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassGastropoda
OrderStylommatophora
FamilyAchatinidae
GenusLissachatina
SpeciesLissachatina fulica

Where it lives

Native to Kenya and Tanzania; invasive in warm regions worldwide.

Fun facts

  • An adult can be 20 cm or more in length, which makes it one of the largest land snails alive.
  • To survive harsh conditions, this snail can seal itself inside its shell and stay dormant for up to three years.
  • Mating begins with courtship in which snails pet their heads and front parts against each other, but up to 90% of attempts are rejected.
  • A newly hatched snail eats its own eggshell and the shells of its siblings.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).