Archachatina marginata

Archachatina marginata
The shell of Archachatina marginata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
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 20 cm long, and live up to 10 years.

Distribution

This species occurs in Western Africa: Cameroon through Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This species has not yet become established in the United States, 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 United States.[1]

Archachatina marginata var. ovum (Pfeiffer, 1858)
Archachatina marginata var. suturalis (Philippi, 1849)

References

  1. ↑ Cowie R. H., Dillon R. T., Robinson D. G. & Smith J. W. (2009). "Alien non-marine snails and slugs of priority quarantine importance in the United States: A preliminary risk assessment". American Malacological Bulletin 27: 113-132. PDF.

External links

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