Giant african land snail

Description:

The adult snail is around 7 centimeters (2.8 in) in height and 20 centimeters (7.9 in) or more in length.The shell has a conical shape, being about twice as high as it is broad. Either clockwise (dextral) or counterclockwise (sinistral) directions can be observed in the coiling of the shell, although the right-handed (dextral) cone is the more common. Shell colouration is highly variable, and dependent on diet. Typically, brown is the predominant color and the shell is banded. The shell is particularly tough and the adult snail can reach 500g (1.1 pound) in weight.

Habitat:

The species prefers umid, warm areas. Although originated in East Africa, most likely Kenya and Tanzanya, it currently can be found in many tropical and temperate areas around the globe.

Notes:

Present in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, Achatina fulica was introduced illegally in Brazil initially in the state of Paraná, in the 1980s, as an economic alternative to escargot (Helix aspersa) in an agricultural fair. The second entry would have occurred in the Port of Santos by a public servant in the mid-90s, who set up a breeding site in Praia Grande, SP, which promoted weekend courses. The failure of marketing attempts led creators, by misinformation, loosen the curls in the woods. How it reproduces rapidly and has no natural predators in Brazil, it became an agricultural pest and can be found in virtually in the whole country, specially in shore line areas.