They are particularly unique as they have both a gill and a lung which means they can survive both in and out of the water, with them often leaving the water when there is insufficient food in it for them.
They originated in South America but quickly spread around the world and became known as pests. #7: Apple Snails Apple snails are an invasive species across AmericaĪpple snails are a type of large freshwater snail that often grow to around 15 centimeters (6 inches) long and can be found in several different colors, including brown, blue, and yellow. These snails prefer a warm and humid environment and are often kept as pets. Achatina Immaculata are also often called the pink-lipped agate snail due to the stunning pink edge (lip) around the shell of most adults. They are easily distinguishable by their striped shell and can grow to an adult size of 15cm (6 inches) in length. #8: Achatina ImmaculataĪchatina Immaculata is a species of snail that originated on the coast of East Africa but is now also found in South Africa as well. Originally from the Mediterranean and parts of Europe, it is now widespread across the world as is classified as a pest due to its invasive nature and the damage that it causes to crops and vegetation. Also called the green snail, this species is easily identifiable by its green shell and can grow to a shell size of 10-12cm (up to 5 inches) in length. Starting our list off at number nine is the Mediterranean Green Snail. Keep reading to discover the largest snails in the world (the largest weighs more than 30 pounds)! #9: Mediterranean Green Snail A green snail from the family Helicidae But what are the largest snails in the world? You might not expect it, but some snails can be far larger than you would ever expect. Spread out across the world in all different habitats, from the most common of garden snails to sea snails, there is far more to snails than meets the eye. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.With more than 40,000 species of snails in the world today – including land, sea, and freshwater snails – it is inevitable that there is a variety of appearances. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information.
For NPR News, I'm Jessica Meszaros in Tampa.Ĭopyright © 2022 NPR. Authorities warn people not to touch the snails if they find one and to contact them.
Labrador retrievers trained to sniff out the snails are hot on their trail, and snail bait is being laid. MESZAROS: The quarantine in Pasco County will last about three years. without a permit, though Benson says people do.īENSON: They are intercepted throughout the country, I mean, at all major ports coming in from other parts of the world, usually intercepted on passengers. It's against the law to import or possess these snails in the U.S. These are white, which is the more prized color in the illegal pet trade. They're different than the ones found previously. MESZAROS: It's not clear how these snails entered Florida again. Snails would consume them as they were growing. Benson says one big worry is that these mollusks reproduce quickly.īENSON: If they were established, your agricultural crops would fail. Since then, more than a thousand have been collected in an area of Pasco County, which is now under quarantine. MESZAROS: Florida officials thought they'd done away with the snails in South Florida last year after a 10-year battle, but two weeks ago they turned up 300 miles away in a home garden. Bryan Benson is with Florida's Agricultural Department.īRYAN BENSON: They crawl up the sides of houses, absorbing calcium out of the stucco and leaving fecal matter under the eaves. It can give you meningitis because it carries the rat lungworm parasite, and it can eat your house. JESSICA MESZAROS, BYLINE: The giant African land snail is not your garden-variety species. The invasive, disease-spreading - let's just say it - really gross snail was declared eradicated last year, but now they are back. Florida is again pitted in a battle with the giant African land snail.
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