Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

<em>Achatina fulica</em>. Height of shell: 180 mm

Achatina fulica. Height of shell: 180 mm

Museums

Regional Maps

Species Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822)

Giant African Snail


Compiler and date details

July 2012 - Dr John Stanisic

Miscellaneous Literature Names

 

Introduction

In 1977, Achatina fulica was introduced into the Gordonvale area in northern Queensland, but was successfully eradicated (Colman 1977). More recently, in 2004, a single specimen was found in an industrial area in the Currumbin Valley, southeastern Queensland and was subsequently destroyed. The likelihood of further introductions should not be underestimated, but continued vigilance by biosecurity officers and an adherence to strict inspection protocols should keep the risk of future introductions to a minimum. The Giant African Snail is a major pest of agricultural areas and has a diet which includes almost 500 species of plant, fruits and vegetables.

 

Distribution

States

Queensland


Extra Distribution Information

Tropical East Africa, N of central Mozambique. Introduced through Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. Existed briefly at Gordonvale in NE QLD in the 1970s and in the Currumbin Valley in SE QLD in 2004 but was eradicated on both occasions

Introduced from tropical East Africa.


IBRA and IMCRA regions (map not available)

IBRA

Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Crop, gardens.

Extra Ecological Information

LIves in trees, among litter, soil and debris.

 

Diagnosis

Shell very large, axially banded with white, yellow, brown and olive, elongately ovate, solid; spire pointed, whorls rounded; columella truncate, lip not reflected, aperture white; umbilicus absent; height to 180mm.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
10-Dec-2023 ACHATINIDAE Swainson, 1840 16-Nov-2023 MODIFIED
14-Dec-2011 ADDED