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National Invasive Species Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Home / Terrestrial Invasives / Terrestrial Invertebrates / Giant African Snail

Giant African Snail

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Giant African Snail
Giant East African Snail, albino shell - Yuri Yashin achatina.ru, Russian Federation
Scientific Name: 

Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich) (CABI)
Note: A. fulica was recently redesignated Lissachatina fulica, largely on the basis of Mead's (1961) observations (Naggs, 2002).

Synonym: 

Achatina fulica (Bowdich 1822), formerly Férussac 1821 (CABI)

Common Name: 

Giant African snail (GAS), giant African land snail, kalutara snail

Native To: 

Africa (Thiengo et al. 2007)

Date of U.S. Introduction: 

First introduced to Hawaii in 1936; first introduced to the continental U.S. in 1966 (Thiengo et al. 2007)

Means of Introduction: 

Imported as pets and for educational purposes; may also arrive accidentally in cargo (Thiengo et al. 2007)

Impact: 

Agricultural and garden pest; attacks and feeds on hundreds of different plant species (Civeyrel and Simberloff 1996; Thiengo et al. 2007)

Distribution / Maps / Survey Status

Pest Tracker - Survey Status of Giant African Snail
USDA. APHIS. Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey. National Agricultural Pest Information System.

Federally Regulated

Giant African Snail Program Information - Program Documents and Federal Notices and Federal Orders

USDA. APHIS. Plant Protection and Quarantine.

Snails in the genus Achatina (e.g., Achatina fulica, the Giant African Snail), are specifically prohibited for both interstate movement and importation into the U.S. This snail species group is not only strictly prohibited from entering the U.S. but is safeguarded when discovered. See also: Regulated Organism and Soil Permits: Snails and Slugs

Hungry Pests - Pest Tracker

USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

See what states have a federal quarantine for any of the targeted Hungry Pests, and identify which pests or diseases are at greatest risk due to a suitable habitat. In addition to federal quarantines, state-level quarantines might apply see State Summaries of Plant Protection Laws and Regulations (National Plant Board).

Images

Google Images - Giant African Snail
Google.
Invasive.org - Giant African Snail
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.

Videos

YouTube - Why Giant Snails Are a Problem for Florida

Google. YouTube; CNN.

Selected Resources

The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source. Or, to display all related content view all resources for Giant African Snail.

Partnership
EPPO Global Database - Achatina fulica
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.
Fact Sheet: Giant African Land Snail
Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project.
First Detector Program - Giant African Snail

National Plant Diagnostic Network.

You can become a more effective First Detector by familiarizing yourself with invasive target pests and pathogens known to exist in the U.S. If you think you have encountered one of the species or disease complexes listed, report its presence.

Global Invasive Species Database - Achatina fulica
IUCN. Species Survival Commission. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Invasive Species Compendium - Achatina fulica
CAB International.
New York Invasive Species Information - Giant African Land Snail

New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse.

Terrestrial Mollusc Tool - Lissachatina fulica

USDA. APHIS. PPQ. CPHST. Identification Technology Program.

The Dirty Dozen - Giant African Snail

Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area.

Federal Government
Hungry Pests: The Threat - Giant African Snail
USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Plant Pest and Disease Program: Mollusks - Giant African Snail
USDA. APHIS. Plant Protection and Quarantine.
International Government
Priority Plant Pests and Diseases: Giant African Snail

Business Queensland (Australia).

State and Local Government
Michigan Invasive Species - Giant African Snail
Michigan.gov.
Pests & Diseases - Giant African Land Snail

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Plant Industry.

Giant African land snails (GALS) could be devastating to Florida agriculture and natural areas because they cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments. GALS are illegal to import into the U.S. without a permit. If you have seen one of these snails please contact the FDACS helpline (888) 397-1517.

Regulatory & Scientific Information: Giant African Land Snails

Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Academic
EDIS - Giant African Land Snail
University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.
Electronic Data Information Source Publication #ENY-512
Introduced Species Summary Project - Giant (East) African Snail
Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Professional
The Giant African Snail: A Problem in Economic Malacology (1961)
Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk.
Note: Complete text of the book by Albert R. Mead (1961. Albert R. Mead. The University of Chicago Press. Chicago. 257 pp.)

Citations