The Largest Snail in the World Can Grow as Long as a Human Arm

These snails can live up to 9 years. Image credit: Plant pests and diseases
Giant African Snails originated in East Africa, but can be found in much of the world today. These giant snails don’t migrate deliberately, but people have collected them as pets and they have escaped, or have been brought over to other countries on cargo ships. Since an adult is capable of laying hundreds of eggs at a time, it was quite easy for the species to spread in countries where it’s not native.

The giant snail prefers humid forest areas, but it’s also comfortable along coasts, rivers, scrublands, wetlands, and even in cities. It has no particular problem with colder climates either, since it’s able to survive cold temperatures in a semi-hibernation state.

As a herbivore, its diet consists of a huge variety of plants. According to biologists, the Giant African Land Snail can consume over 500 different kinds of plants. However, to fortify its shell, sometimes it also eats cement and bones for their calcium content.