GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL
GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL
2. The Giant African Snail originates from the coastal area of East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania. Its first sighting was in the 1800’s. However, the snails can thrive and are found in most areas with humid, tropical climates.
3. Full grown, this snail can reach up to 20 cm in length and 12 cm in diameter. Its shell is usually dark and light brown and swirls wrap around it cone like shell. The rest of the body resembles a slug.
4. These snails were first spotted in the 1940’s in San Pedro, California. Since then, this snail has been transported and distributed throughout the United States. It has been found in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, along the coastlines, and in the southern states.
5. The Giant African Snails most often came into California on shipments containing goods and plants from Hawaii, Guam, and the Pacific Islands. It has also been transported through illegal pet trade to pet stores and educational institutions.
6. The Giant African Snail begins laying eggs at 5-6 months old. A single snail can produce from 300 to 1000 eggs in 3-4 batches per year. The eggs usually hatch 8-20 days after mating. Their lifespan lasts about 3-5 years.
7. In 1966, a Miami boy smuggled three Giant African Snails into Florida from his vacation. His grandmother released them into her garden, and in seven years, there were more than 18,000 of them. The Florida state eradication effort took more than 10 years at a cost of one million dollars.
8. The Giant African Snails diet consists of over 500 different plant species, including cocoa, papaya, peanut, beans, peas, and cucumbers. In addition, they forage on animal matter, lichens, algae, and fungi.
9. During less favorable conditions (dry, cool), they nest in loose soil during their period of hibernation. This can promote health in the soil as the soil is being churned. However, with over population, the snails destroy and pollute their surroundings, including the soil.
10. Many beetle species consume the Giant African Snail such as the lampyriad and the coprine beetle. The domesticated duck and a variety of other bird species also eat the Giant African Snail.
11. The greatest threat to humans is this snail carries eosinophilic meningitis. This condition is caused by the rat lungworm parasite which is transferred by eating the snail, in which some humans consider the snails a delicasy. In addition, the snail can carry a gram-negative bacteria which causes a wide variety of symptoms in people with a weak immune system.
12. The snail causes great economic loss for farmers due the large amounts of vegetation it consumes. Not only does it decrease the income for farmers, but it also impacts their living conditions and decreases food resources for humans, animals, and other species.
13. The Giant African Snail is considered one of the most damaging land snails in the world. Therefore, it is designated as “high priority” for the need to be controlled and/or eradicated immediately after the first sighting in a given area.
14. The giant African land snail, believed to be originally from East Africa, has been established throughout the Indo-Pacific Basin, including the Hawaiian Islands. This mollusk has also been introduced to the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Recently, the snails were detected on Saint Lucia and Barbados.
15. In other countries, it is a popular pet and used for educational purposes. It is also used in some religious rituals.
16. The Giant African Land Snail, Achatina (Lissachatina) fulica, is considered one of the most damaging snails in the world. It is known to feed on at least 500 different types of plants.
17. Snails move by gliding in a way, using many muscles as they move. As it contract its muscles and slime is produced, which allows the snail to glide on many surfaces.When a snail is gliding on your skin, it can feel cold and wet for the reasons of ; a)They are cold blooded and b) the slime they produce.
The scientific name for snails are gastropods.
18. Some have a toothed organ called a radula which the mollusk uses to scrape off bits of plant or animal matter that the animal uses for food.
19. Massive plant foraging, both individually and by repeated and prolific reproduction that build up enormous populations, threatening both the food and ornamental industries, and the natural environment.
20. Traffic--movement of large numbers of snails on streets at night can create slick spots from being hit by vehicles.
Lawn mowing--hitting snail shells with a mower can create instant shrapnel.
21. It is listed as one of the top 100 invasive species in the world.
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