Giant African snail [electronic resource]

2004·0.14 MB·English

by  United States. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Historic, Archive Document
Do assume
not content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

—
Giant African Snail
"GiantAfrican snail" isthecommon name usedto describe
several snail speciesthatare nativetoAfrica and considered
serious agricultural pests in the United States. These
species are large, terrestrial snailsthat reach upto8 inches
(20cm) in length and nearly5 inches (13cm) in diameter
aboutthe size ofan average adultfist. The brownish shell
covers at least halfthe length ofthe snail.
To reportordispose ofa giantAfrican snail, please call the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) atthis
toll-free number: [phone]. For more information
aboutthe dangers ofthesesnails, pleasevisit
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/ga_snail/ga_snail.html
ontheWeb.
Ag84Pro
no. 1777
Giant African Snail
1022679731
ofanadultgiant
Africansnail
(Achatinafulica).
Thesesnails
generallyreachtheir
maxinnumsizewithin
10months. (APHIS
photobyLouis
Volpe.)
AnAPHIS inspector
holdingamature
specimenofA.
fulica. Theshellof
anadultsnail
consistsofsevento
ninewhorls(spirals),
withalongand
greatlyswollen body
whorl. (APHIS
photobyLouis
Volpe.)
A menaceto morethan 500 agricultural crops, the giant
African snail poses a seriousagricultural threat. All these
snails
• Are illegal tosell, distribute, and/orship across State lines
in the United States;
• Contain both male and female reproductive organs and
reproduce rapidly, laying upto 500 eggs at atime; and
• Can transmitdiseasesto humansthrough theconsumption
of raw orimproperlycooked meatorbycontactwith human
mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, nose, and mouth).
The U.S. DepartmentofAgriculture isan equal employment
opportunity providerand employer.
UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture
AnimalandPlantHealth InspectionService
ProgramAidNo.1777•IssuedJuly2004