Giant African Snail: A sinister and unexpected encounter

I’m going to tell you about a very dangerous encounter I had yesterday, Sunday, while heading out to visit my mother. On the way, I came across what looked like a lovely snail, and I also ran into a wild cat that—just like me—was surprised by the discovery.

I got close enough to take the photos I’m sharing here, but I remained very cautious; I generally don't approach animals like this out of an abundance of caution and because I’m unfamiliar with their characteristics—it never hurts to be careful.

When I arrived at my mother's house, I opened the iNaturalist app and froze in panic upon learning the species I had encountered on the way: a Giant African Snail. It is considered a highly invasive species and poses a public health risk, as it transmits parasites that cause illnesses such as meningitis. If you see one near your home:

🧤 Do not touch it directly (use gloves if you need to move it).

🐶 Keep a close eye on your pets to prevent them from interacting with it.

📢 Inform the community to prevent risks in gardens and urban areas.

I was extremely worried about this snail you see in the image, as well as about the children—since it is a school zone—and the elderly people who pass by there daily.

I immediately alerted community authorities and neighbors so they could report the situation to the administrators of the preschool located just a few meters from where I found this snail.

Through further research, I learned that this Giant African Snail is a land snail species native to tropical Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia). According to IUCN data, it has been introduced to several continents and is listed among the world's 100 most harmful invasive alien species.

Physical Characteristics and Reproduction

• Shell: It can reach up to 13 cm in length, featuring a helical shape (7 to 9 whorls), a pointed tip, and dark violet tones alternating with light yellow. Diet: It is primarily herbivorous (affecting crops and gardens) but is polyphagous, devouring almost anything, including feces.
• Reproduction: It is hermaphroditic and possesses extremely high reproductive potential, capable of laying up to 600 eggs.
• Health Risks: It can harbor the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, which causes eosinophilic meningoencephalitis and meningitis in humans. Bacteria: It carries bacteria such as Aeromonas hydrophila and other intestinal parasites in its slime and secretions. Danger to pets: Accidental ingestion can be fatal for domestic dogs.
• Handling: Do not touch or handle it with bare hands—especially if there are cuts or wounds; always wear gloves. Avoid contact with slime: Keep children and pets away from areas where this mollusk is present.

Exercise great caution if you encounter this species; report it, and above all, keep a close eye on children. For me, it was an unwelcome encounter, yet I didn't miss the chance to photograph it and find out what it was.

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See you later, and many blessings.

I gathered information about them from various websites, including iNaturalist.

Camera used	Redmi Note 13
Flash	No
Photography	(Lissachatina fulicaa)
Photographer	@cositav
Location	Los Guayos, Venezuela

Community	Link
Original community	iNaturalist

Latitude	Longitude	Link to map/observation
10.16397	-67.92443	https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407831100

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📚 Sources and References:

• 📖 Taxonomic and Health Information: Lissachatina fulica (Wikipedia)
• 🔬 Invasive Species Data Sheet (IUCN): Global Invasive Species Database - Lissachatina fulica
• 🇻🇪 Health Reports and Research in Venezuela: Study on enteroparasites in Achatina fulica in Venezuela (VITAE / Saber UCV)
  iNaturalist information Giant African Snail Lissachatina fulica
  I used Google Translate.

Español

Hasta luego y mil bendiciones

Recopilé información sobre ellos de varios sitios web, incluyendo iNaturalist.

Cámara utilizada	Redmi Note 13
Flash	No
Fotografía	(Lissachatina fulicaa)
Fotógrafo	@cositav
Ubicación	Los Guayos, Venezuela

Comunidad	Enlace
Comunidad original	iNaturalist

Latitud	Longitud	Enlace al mapa/observación
10.16397	-67.92443	https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/407831100

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📚 Fuentes y Referencias:

• 📖 Información Taxonómica y Sanitaria: Lissachatina fulica (Wikipedia)
• 🔬 Ficha de Especies Invasoras (UICN): Global Invasive Species Database - Lissachatina fulica
• 🇻🇪 Reportes Sanitarios e Investigaciones en Venezuela: Estudio sobre enteroparásitos en Achatina fulica en Venezuela (VITAE / Saber UCV)
  Información de Inaturalist Caracol Gigante Africano Lissachatina fulica
  He usado Google Traductor