Family Achatinidae Genus Achatina
Achatina achatina Linnaeus,1758
The largest species in this Family,the shell size can be up to 300 mm,but is usually about
150-200 mm with 7-8 whorls.
The eggs are oval,yellowish,8-8 mm x 6.5-7 mm.
It's habitat is dense forest and plantations.
This is one of the African Landsnails being kept as a pet.And in Sierra Leone,Liberia,Nigeria,Ghana and
the Ivory Coast this snail is used as food.
In Upper Guinea,Sierra Leone,Liberia,Ivory Coast,Togo,Dahomy and southern Nigeria.
photo:(c)Arno Brosi
Achatina albopicta Smith,1878
Shell white to dark-brown,with blotching and streaking,about 17cm,usually somewhat smaller.The apex is reddish in contrary to A.reticulata which is a snail very similar
in appearance.Another difference is the lighter head where A.reticulata has a much
darker colour.
Along the coast of Kenya and Tanzania.
photo:Yuri Yashin
Achatina balteata Reeve,1849
Shell olive-yellow,yellowish-brown,chestnut with or without blotches or streaks.
Length 100-148 mm and width 52-73 mm.
The shell has been used as money in Angola(cut into disks)and the Congo(cut length-wise).
In Upper-Guinea,Cameroon to Central Angola,Sierra Leone and Gambia.
Achatina fulicaBowdich,1822 Shell size is very variable,depending on locality,from 72-171 mm in length to 37.5-81 mm in width,dark brown with lighter vertical bands. This species is both a favourite pet and serious pest. Originally in East-Africa,but imported in India and the Pacific. According to Bequaert(1950)there are five subspecies:
Achatina iostoma Pfeiffer,1852
About 13cm,light brownish with a granular surface.
In Cameroon.
Achatina immaculata Lamarck,1822 Shell:Thick and large,shape very variable,columella and inside of lip pink. Apex smooth. Color is whitish,buff or light brown,with darker brown axial stripes which are relatively straight compared to other Achatina-species. Achatina panthera Ferussac,1832is now to be believed a narrow variety of A.immaculata. Habitat:Coastal lowlands,dune forests,gardens,valley thickets and savanna woodlands. Distribution:East-Africa.
Achatina iredalei Preston,1910 Shell thin,semi-transparent,lemon yellow,about 70-100 mm. This species is one of two(the other one being Cochlitoma zebra)Achatinids to give birth to live young. In Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Achatina reticulata Pfeiffer,1845
Shell yellowish white to reddish brown with vertical markings,on the body whorl are
spiral lines and vertical welts.The periostracum is very thin and usually lost in
adult specimens.
The head and tentacles are dark brown,with a dark brown band running down the center towards the shell.
The eyes and tips of the tentacles and rest of the body are pale
yellowish brown.
Length 160 mm and width 75 mm with 8-10 whorls.
In Zanzibar.
(c)photo's:Arno Brosi
Achatina stuhlmanni von Martens,1892
About 10cm.
In Uganda.
Achatina schweinfurthi von Martens,1873
About 14cm,light brownish with lightning darker stripes.
In East-Africa.
Metachatina kraussi Pfeiffer,1846 Shell:Large and thick,lip thickened,columella not truncated as in other Achatinids.However young snails do have a truncated columella. Color whitish with brown streaks on the apex,columella and inside of the lip dark brown to purplish brown. Length up to 160 mm. The animal has a dark grey head and tentacles with a broad band running towards the shell,the sides are paler while the foot is whitish grey. Habitat:Dune,coastal lowland forest,valley thicket,savanna woodland. Distribution:Eastern South-Africa;KwaZulu Natal north to Mozambique,inland towards Ithala,the Lebombo Mountains,Kranskop,Glencoe,the Vryheid region,south to Ifafa.
Genus Columna
Columna columna(Müller,1774): São Tomé and Principe
Columna leai(Tryon, 1866) : São Tomé and Principe
Columna leai Tryon,1866 Columna columna Müller,1774
photo:www.lowtideshells.com
Pictures courtesy of Guido Poppe and Yuri Yashin.
Next page: Genera Lignus,Limicolaria,Metachatina,Perideriops,Pseudachatina