Genus Achatina Lamarck, 1799
Giant African Snails
Compiler and date details
July 2012 - Dr John Stanisic
1992 - Brian J. Smith, Museum Victoria, Melbourne
- Achatina Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de Monet de 1799. Prodrome d'une nouvelle classification de coquilles, comprenent une réaction appropiée de charactères génériques, et l'établissement d'un grand nombre de genres nouveaux. Mémoires de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris 1: 63-91 [May 1799] [75].
Type species:
Bulla achatina Linnaeus, 1758 by monotypy.
Introduction
Members of the genus are distinguished by large, solid, axially banded shells with truncated columella. Species of the Australian genera Pygmipanda and Hedleyella are grossly similar to Achatina and have been confused with the Giant African Snail. However, these genera are characterised by smaller, thinner and narrower shells and the species are restricted to temperate and subtropical native forests.
Distribution
States
Queensland
Extra Distribution Information
Introduced but successfully eradicated
IBRA
Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)
Distribution References
Diagnosis
Shells large to very large, axially banded with white, yellow, brown and olive, ovately elongate, solid; spire pointed, whorls rounded; spire sculpture smooth to decussate; columella truncated, lip not reflected; imperforate.
General References
Bequaert, J.C. 1950. Studies in the Achatininae, a group of African land snails. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 105: 1-216 [9]
Smith, B.J. 1992. Non-Marine Mollusca. In, Houston, W.W.K. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Non-marine Mollusca. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 8 xii 408 pp. [89]
Zilch, A. 1959. Gastropoda. Teil 2. Euthyneura. In, Schindewolf, O.H. (ed.). Handbuch der Paläozoologie. Berlin-Zehlendorf : Bornträger Vol. 6(2)(2) xii 834 pp. [363]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-Dec-2011 | ADDED |