Giant Blonde Snail
Lissachatina immaculata
When entering dormancy to survive droughts, it secretes a brittle layer of dried mucus and calcium carbonate that hardens into a temporary door.
- Scientific name
- Lissachatina immaculata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Mollusca › Gastropoda › Stylommatophora › Achatinidae › Lissachatina
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Coastal forests, subtropical woodlands, agricultural edges, and moist scrublands
- Diet
- Decaying organic matter, fallen fruits, fungi, leafy plants, and soil minerals for calcium
- Range
- Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Malawi
- Size
- Shell length 10–15 cm; total body weight 100–300 g
- Lifespan
- 5–10 years
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Habitat destruction, pesticide use, and collection for the exotic pet trade or consumption
- Safe to approach?
- This snail is non-venomous and incapable of biting humans. However, it can carry harmful parasites like rat lungworm and bacteria such as Salmonella on its body and slime. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling, and avoid touching the face, eyes, or mouth. Never consume wild snails raw or undercooked.
Lissachatina immaculata is a species of very large, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinidae.
Photo: Benjamin Fredlund, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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