Achatina fulica is one of the 100 top invasive species in the world. Originally a native of East Africa, it has now invaded most of the Indo-Pacific region. A serious pest in agro-horticultural systems, it is used as food for humans, poultry and fishes.
Achatina fulica (Ferussac, 1821)
🗒 Synonyms
synonym | Achatina fulica Bowditch, 1822 |
🗒 Common Names
Other |
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📚 Overview
Summary
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
SubSpecies Varieties Races
Four sub-species identified - Achatina fulica hamillei Petit, 1859; Achatina fulica rodatzi Dunker, 1852; Achatina fulica sinistrosa Grateloup, 1840 and
Achatina fulica umbilicata Nevill, 1879.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
📚 Natural History
Reproduction
Achatina fulica is a hermaphrodite - each individual has both testes and ovaries and is capable of producing both sperms and ova. Self-fertilisation rare, occuring only in small populations. Snails of similar size show bilateral mating, while those of unequal size show unilateral mating with the larger one acting as the female.
Mating behaviour includes bringing heads and front parts against each other. Courtship can last upto 30 minutes, while actual transfer of gametes can last for two hours. Transferred sperm can be stored within the body for up to two years. Thus these snails can lay eggs over a period of several months after only one mating. A snail may lay 5-6 clutches per year, with 200 eggs per clutch. Eggs are laid in damp places and show a hatching viability of about 90%. Eggs are yellow or cream in colour and 4.5 - 5.5 mm in diameter. Thus, it breeds rapidly, out-competes native species of snails and reaches large numbers in short periods due to their prolific breeding habits.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Life Expectancy
Captivity: 5-6 years.
Wild: upto ten years.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Size
Height: around 7 centimetres.
Length: can reach 20 centimetres or more.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Growth
Adult size is reached in about six months, after which growth slows but does not ever cease.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Morphology
Conical shell, twice as high as it is broad. Dextral coiling more commonly seen than sinistral coiling. Shell colouration highly variable and dependent on diet. Typically, brown bands running across the spirals.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Behaviour
Buried underground throughout the day, these snails emerge from their damp hideouts at dusk and feed throughout the night. Most active during the rainy season.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Trophic Strategy
Achatina fulica is a macrophytophagous snail and feeds on wide variety of plants, fruit and vegetables. Because of its prolific feeding habitats, it can cause significant damage to agricultural and horticultural crops. According to Raut and Barker (2002) Achatina fulica feeds on more than 500 plants of agricultural and horticultural importance, including cuttings and seedlings of plants.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Associations
Parasites of Achatina fulica include:
1. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus.
2. Angiostrongylus cantonensis - causes eosinophilic meningoencephalitis.
3. Angiostrongylus costaricensis - causes abdominal angiostrongyliasis.
4. Schistosoma mansoni- causes schistosomiasis, detected in faeces.
5. Trichuris spp. - detected in faeces.
6. Hymenolepis spp. - detected in faeces.
7. Strongyloides spp. - detected in faeces and in mucous secretion.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Molecular Biology
JX256254.1
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Miscellaneous Details
The Giant African Land Snail Achatina fulica is considered as one of the world’s most damaging 100 invasive alien species. Two individuals of the Giant African Snail were brought to India from Mauritius by the pioneer of malacology in India, William Benson, in 1847. Benson left India soon after his return from Mauritius and handed the snails to a friend and neighbour in Chowringee, Kolkata, and it was the neighbour who subsequently released them in his garden. From these two individual snails the species spread throughout much of South Asia.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Found in agricultural areas, coastland, natural forest, planted forests, riparian zones, scrub/shrublands, urban areas, wetlands, gardens and homesteads.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Description
Achatina fulica is a native of Eastern Africa mainly from Kenya and Tanzania. It is introduced purposefully and accidentally to many parts of the globe for medicinal purposes, food and for research purposes (Raut and Barker 2002). It is now present in most of the Pacific and Indian Ocean Islands.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Endemic Distribution
Non-endemic
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Population Biology
Very common species during rainy season in India. The population density can vary from 2 to 70 individuals per 10 metre square.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Risk Statement
Achatina fulica is a serious pest to agri-horticulural systems throughout the Indo-Pacific Islands (Raut 1982). Plant diseases such as black pod disease caused by Phytophthora palmivora are also spread through the faeces of Achatina fulica (Raut and Barker 2002; CAB 2003). In India, A. fulica causes more damage to vegetables belonging to the families Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae and Leguminoseae. Achatina fulica can also act as a vector of human diseases such as angiostrongylosis and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, by acting as the hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis (CAB 2003; Santos Carvalho et al. 2003). This parasite enters humans through eating raw or under-cooked snails.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Legislation
Not protected. An invasive pest species.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Uses
Achatina fulica is used as food for humans, poultry and fishes; and for medicinal and research purposes.
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
No Data
📚 Information Listing
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Encyclopedia of Life (EOL)
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India.
Attributions | N.A. Aravind Madhyastha, Sandeep Sen and Ramya Badrinath, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
References
- Impacts Information'. Invasive Species Specialist Group. URL: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/achful/achful_imp.pdf.
- Achatina fulica. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- 'Achatina fulica (Giant African Land Snail)
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to Achatina fulica. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to <i>Achatina fulica</i>. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
- '<i>Achatina fulica</i> (Giant African Land Snail)
- <i>Achatina fulica</i>. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- Impacts Information'. Invasive Species Specialist Group. URL: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/achful/achful_imp.pdf.
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to <i>Achatina fulica</i>. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
- <i>Achatina fulica</i>. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- '<i>Achatina fulica</i> (Giant African Land Snail)
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to <i>Achatina fulica</i>. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
- <i>Achatina fulica</i>. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- Impacts Information'. Invasive Species Specialist Group. URL: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/achful/achful_imp.pdf.
- '<i>Achatina fulica</i> (Giant African Land Snail)
- '<i>Achatina fulica</i> (Giant African Land Snail)
- <i>Achatina fulica</i>. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- Impacts Information'. Invasive Species Specialist Group. URL: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/achful/achful_imp.pdf.
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to <i>Achatina fulica</i>. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
Information Listing > References
- Impacts Information'. Invasive Species Specialist Group. URL: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/achful/achful_imp.pdf.
- Achatina fulica. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- 'Achatina fulica (Giant African Land Snail)
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to Achatina fulica. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to <i>Achatina fulica</i>. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
- '<i>Achatina fulica</i> (Giant African Land Snail)
- <i>Achatina fulica</i>. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- Impacts Information'. Invasive Species Specialist Group. URL: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/achful/achful_imp.pdf.
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to <i>Achatina fulica</i>. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
- <i>Achatina fulica</i>. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- '<i>Achatina fulica</i> (Giant African Land Snail)
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to <i>Achatina fulica</i>. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
- <i>Achatina fulica</i>. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- Impacts Information'. Invasive Species Specialist Group. URL: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/achful/achful_imp.pdf.
- '<i>Achatina fulica</i> (Giant African Land Snail)
- '<i>Achatina fulica</i> (Giant African Land Snail)
- <i>Achatina fulica</i>. (2013, January 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, January 26, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achatina_fulica&oldid=533343298.
- Impacts Information'. Invasive Species Specialist Group. URL: http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/achful/achful_imp.pdf.
- Mead, A.R. 1979. Economic malacology with particular reference to <i>Achatina fulica</i>. In V. Fretter & Peake, J. (eds.), The Pulmonates, Vol. 2B. Academic Press, N.Y.
No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
Root | Root |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Mollusca |
Class | Gastropoda |
Order | Stylommatophora |
Family | Achatinidae |
Genus | Achatina |
Species | Achatina fulica (Ferussac 1821) |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
👥 Groups