Archachatina marginata | |
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The shell of Archachatina marginata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
(unranked): | clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura |
Superfamily: | Achatinoidea |
Family: | Achatinidae |
Genus: | Archachatina |
Species: | A. marginata |
Binomial name | |
Archachatina marginata (Swainson, 1821) |
Archachatina marginata, common name the giant West African snail, is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinidae. They can grow up to 20cm long, and live up to 10 years.
This species occurs in Western Africa: Cameroon through Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This species has not yet become established in the USA, but it is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.[1]