Samoan Land Snails Identification Guide - Achatina (Lissachatina) fulica

Samoan Land Snails Identification Guide

(data last revised 29 June 2001)

Use this image-based identification guide to help identify Samoan land snails.

Distribution:	'Upolu, Tutuila, Ta'u.
Natural Range:	East Africa.
Status:	Introduced.
Habitat:	Widespread (especially on Tutuila) in disturbed areas at low and mid elevations, but also found in native forest.
Adult Size:	Height generally around 7-8 cm but can reach 20 cm or more.
Identification:	Far larger than any other land snail in the Samoan Islands. Not as slender as Euglandina rosea, and generally browner and more mottled or streaked than E. rosea, which has a more uniform pinkish shell.
Remarks:	Achatina fulica was first reported in American Samoa in 1977, subsequently spreading rapidly throughout Tutuila. In 1992 it was also recorded on Ta'u, although not on Ofu or Olosega. It was first reported from 'Upolu in 1990 but seems not yet to have reached other islands of [Western] Samoa. A. fulica has been introduced widely in the humid tropics, frequently becoming an agricultural and garden pest and general nuisance. Its pest status has led to the introduction of predatory snails (see Spiraxidae, Streptaxidae) in attempts at biological control, with resultant serious impacts on native snail faunas (see Partulidae).