Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 8790531
African Giant Snail
Lissachatina fulicaAlso known as Giant African Land Snail, Giant African Snail, East African Land Snail
African giant snails are massive terrestrial mollusks known for their distinctive conical, striped shells and voracious appetites. Active primarily at night and during humid rainy periods, they consume hundreds of plant species along with plaster and limestone to construct their sturdy shells. Hermaphroditic individuals lay thousands of eggs annually, enabling rapid population growth that makes them formidable agricultural pests.
NocturnalInvasiveHerbivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Plant leaves
- Fallen fruit
- Calcium-rich stone
Predators
- Rats
- Rosy Wolfsnail
- Ground beetles
ThreatsEradication programs and pest control measures in invasive ranges
HabitatsAgricultural fields, tropical forests, urban gardens, disturbed areas
Life span3–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderStylommatophora
- FamilyAchatinidae
- GenusLissachatina
- SpeciesLissachatina fulica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Carries rat lungworm parasites; avoid handling with bare skin and never ingest raw.
- Why it is dangerous
- Hosts Angiostrongylus cantonensis parasites that cause eosinophilic meningitis in humans through ingestion of raw meat or slime-contaminated produce.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by a large brown shell up to 20 centimeters long featuring prominent reddish-brown and yellowish stripes.
- What to do
- Avoid touching bare-handed, wear gloves if removal is necessary, and thoroughly wash all raw garden produce.
Responsible observation
- Observe safely: Maintain a safe distance and avoid direct contact with skin or slime.
- Report sightings: Contact local agricultural authorities immediately if found in invasive areas.
Predator (c) Dylan Parker, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Parasite Host (c) Martin Cooper, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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