crustacean · GBIF taxon 8305409
African Giant Snail
Achatina achatinaAlso known as Giant Tiger Land Snail, Agate Snail, Tiger Snail
These massive land snails navigate the forest floor using two pairs of retractable tentacles, with the longer upper pair housing light-sensitive eyes. Active primarily at night, they consume a vast array of plant matter and use their specialized rasping tongue, the radula, to scrape food. During dry periods, they seal themselves inside their heavy, tiger-striped shells with a calcified membrane to conserve moisture.
NocturnalDetritivoreHermaphrodite
Licensed referenceCharles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Herbivorous (leaves, fruits, decaying plant matter, and fungi)
- family
- Achatinidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, overharvesting for food, and pesticide use
- life Span
- 3 to 10 years
NE
Can carry meningitis-causing parasites; wash hands thoroughly after any contact.
- Sanitation: Always wash your hands with soap and water after touching these snails to prevent parasite transmission.
- Shell Handling: Lift them gently by the main body of the shell rather than the fragile growing edge near the opening.
- Moisture Control: Observe them during damp evenings or after rainfall when they are most active and expressive.