Giant African Land Snail

Description:

"Achatina fulica" is not good to be edible and is a vector of meningitis (caused by "Angiostrongylus cantonensis"). But it was used to replace the escargot erroneously in Brazil, at the time of colonization. The adults of the species reaching up to 18cm shell length and weigh up to 500g. In southwestern Brazil, they arrive within 10cm shell and 100g total weight. Young people have the same basic shell of adults.

Habitat:

The species is native to East Africa, but it has been widely introduced to other parts of the world, through the pet trade, as a food resource, and by accidental introduction.