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Tiger Snail

Achatina achatina
The Tiger Snail, also known as the African Giant Snail, is the largest land dwelling snail in the entire world. Some of the largest shells ever measured were a foot long! They are found in West Africa, and are kept as pets in some places of world. In their native Africa they are often harvested for food, due to their gigantic size.

Like many snails, the Tiger is hermaphroditic, though two snails are still required for breeding to take place. They can lay over a thousand eggs a year and live as long as ten years!

Tiger Snails are illegal to own or import in the United States. Why? Because of Achatina fulica. That species of snail, which is very similar to the Tiger Snail, is a horrible invasive species that feeds on and damages over 500 different plant types. Authorities have found and confiscated Tiger Snails at importation points, in an effort to keep a second huge invasive snail out of the country.
IUCN Status :  Not listed
Location : West Africa
Size : Shell length up to 1ft (30cm)
Classification : Phylum : Mollusca -- Class : Gastropoda -- Family: Achatinidae
Genus : Achatina -- Species : A. achatina
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Comments

  1. DianeMay 28, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    I have seen giant toads in S.Africa but not the giant smail!! Thanks for the info. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  2. Emma SpringfieldMay 28, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    It has a beautiful shell.

    ReplyDelete

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