Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Giant African Land Snail

Achatina fulica

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

7.2969, 80.2349

Field Notes

Description:

As they develop rapidly and produce large numbers of offspring, this mollusc is now listed as one of the top 100 invasive species in the world. It is a voracious feeder, and recognized as a serious pest organism affecting agriculture, natural ecosystems, and human health and commerce

Reference Links:

Achatina fulica

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
NuwanChathuranga
don't know which year but they were in my garden as far as i can remember!
Namitha
Thank you so much.I did not know that Greater Coucal ate them. That's a good news. Do you know when these snails started appearing first in Dampelessa, around which year?
NuwanChathuranga
done !! they are bit common here, well known predator of this snail is the Greater Coucal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Coucal
Namitha
Hi NuwanChathuranga, It would be really great if you could add this spotting to this mission http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/14260136. I did not know that these invaders were there in Srilanka. Are there a lot of them or are they rare?
Aaron_G
The entire genus has been banned in the United States by the Dept. of Agriculture. The underground trafficking of these snails has caused the USDA to perform undercover sting operations to stop sales of them. Zoos and aquariums can't even get them on their USDA permits.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Giant African Snail Hunt - Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Sri Lanka
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 3, 2012

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies