Freakish African Snails the Size of an Adult Fist
Giant African snail species are on the list of the 100 most harmful invasive alien species in the world, but the Giant African snail is easily adapted to life in regions outside its natural habitat and is considered one of the biggest land snails.

Freakish Giant African snails live on all continents except Antarctica.
Scientists consider the giant African snail, Lissachatina fulica, to be one of the most damaging snails in the world. It is known to eat at least 500 different types of plants, including breadfruit, cassava, cocoa, papaya, peanut, rubber, and most varieties of beans, peas, cucumbers, and melons.

The shell is
generally reddish-brown in color with weak yellowish vertical markings but
coloration varies with environmental conditions and diet. A light coffee color
is common. In Africa, from Morocco to Mozambique it lives along the edges of
forests but can live on the banks of rivers and streams, shrublands,
agricultural areas, plantations, gardens, wetlands and in various urban sites.
Giant African snails
are active during the night, and during the day it remains asleep, often buried
beneath the ground to stay safe from predators. It is not a social species as
it lives all its life alone; Not even after laying eggs, it establishes any bond
with its offspring. An important part of the anatomy of this snail is a
structure in the mouth similar to a tongue, which is called the radula. It has
small teeth that allow snails to scrap the food before eating it.
The Giant African
Land Snails are hermaphrodite which means that they have the reproduction
organs for both males and females, so they have the capability to
self-fertilize, but they do not usually do it. They mate in the traditional
way.
Eggs hatch in
anything from a few hours to 17 days. Snails mature at around 5 to 15 months,
depending on the temperature (with cold winter temperatures inducing
hibernation and delaying sexual maturity). The giant African snail lifespan can
be up to 9 years, with 5-6 years being the normal range.
Giant African snails
are also a general nuisance when found near human habitations and can be
hazardous to drivers, causing cars to skid. Their decaying bodies release a bad
odor and the calcium carbonate in their shells neutralizes acid soils, altering
soil properties and the types of plants that can grow in the soil. The natural
predators of this species are caterpillars, ground beetles, other species of
snails, and many types of vertebrates.

Giant African snail-eating papaya
Three giant African snail facts
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Giant African snail-eating papaya |
Believed to be originally from East Africa, the Giant African land snail is also known as the kalutara snail.
The giant African land snail is the common name used to describe any of the three snail species native to Africa.
The giant African snails are (Achatina fulica), the giant Ghana tiger snail (Achatina achatina), and margies (Archachatina marginata).
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What do Waist Beads Symbolize in Africa?
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Highest Temperature and Lowest Temperature in Africa
About African Night Running

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