Giant African Land Snail marginata Archachatina marginata

This is one of several species of large snail known as the Giant African Land Snail (with "achatina" in their genus name), all from Africa south of the Sahara. This one is native to southern Nigeria, Cameroon and Congo and is also called the West African Giant Land Snail, which leads to confusion with the Giant Ghana Land Snail from West Africa. It is invasive in other countries.

There are several subspecies. The shell is usually brownish-yellow with slight dark brown barring and is less pointed than Achatina species. It can grow to some 20cm long and 13 cm diameter. The body is grey, tan or albino. The foot is pale. The adult snail can weigh half a kilo and lives for 5-10 years. The snail is nocturnal (preserves body moisture), solitary and docile. It eats any plant material and is a local food delicacy itself. Like the other Giant West African (Ghana) Land Snail, it is hermaphrodite, but eggs are laid in clutches of up to 20 and have the size and appearance of small bird's eggs (the Ghana Achatina achatina lays several hundred per batch and eggs are only 4mm across).