Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) has banned the importation and possession of live Giant African snails.

The largest land snail is the Giant African Snail, which can measure up to 30 cm.

The population size of this species can be curtailed through disease caused by the bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila but it often has no other natural enemies. This species' substantial size and potential for rapid population growth can make the snail a serious pest when introduced to non-native ecosystems. Achatina achatina is an important source of animal protein for West African forest-dwelling ethnic groups, and there is potential for commercial farming. Each snail lays up to 1200 eggs per year. Like almost all pulmonate gastropods, these snails are hermaphrodites, having male and female sex organs. Such insects include ants, small worms, and even beetles. In other instances, the giant African land snail has been known to eat small insects in order to reach their desired calcium and protein intake needed for survival. Achatina achatina have also been known to eat farmers' crops including cocoa, peanuts, bananas, and cauliflower. Their diets consist of many plants such as nuts, flowers, fruit, stems, and leaves. Similar to other giant land snails such as the Achatina fulica, Achatina achatinas are herbivores. Certain examples have been surveyed in the wild at 30Г—15В cm, making them the largest extant land snail species known. The shells of these snails often grow to a length of 18 centimetres (7.1В in) with a diameter of 9 centimetres (3.5В in). Due to their invasive nature and their slime being a disease vector for meningitis, ownership of these animals is outlawed in several countries. Snails of the genus Achatina have already established themselves in the wild in Florida, where they are considered a pest.

It has been suggested that these species be given top national quarantine significance in the United States.

A related species of snail ( Achatina fulica) has become established in some Caribbean islands, such as Barbados. It is considered a potentially serious pest, an invasive species that could adversely affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. These large snails are kept as pets in the Western world, where owners prize their large size, distinctive markings, and rarity. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and San Francisco. The species is believed to be native to West Africa, within 160 kilometres (99В mi) to 300 kilometres (190В mi) of the coasts of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria.ДЄchatina achatina is routinely confiscated by quarantine authorities at United States airports, especially in Baltimore, Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., John F. It shares the common name ' giant African snail' with other species of snails such as Lissachatina fulica and Archachatina marginata. The name 'Achatina' is from 'achates', Greek for agate. Achatina achatina, commonly known as the giant African snail, also known as the giant tiger land snail, and gigantocochlea, is a species of large, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinidae.

Achatina tincta