Achatina is a genus of medium-sized to very large, air-breathing, tropical land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Achatinidae.[2]

Achatina
Achatina achatina, Kakum National Park, Ghana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Suborder: Achatinina
Superfamily: Achatinoidea
Family: Achatinidae
Subfamily: Achatininae
Genus: Achatina
Lamarck, 1799[1]
Type species
Bulla achatina Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • Achatina (Achatina) Lamarck, 1799 · alternate representation
  • Achatina (Pintoa) Bourguignat, 1890 · alternate representation
  • Achatina (Tripachatina) Bourguignat, 1890 · alternate representation
  • Achatinus Montfort, 1810
  • Achatium Link, 1807
  • Agathina J. Férussac, 1807
  • Agatina auct. (incorrect subsequent spelling)
  • Bulimus (Achatina) Lamarck, 1799 ·
  • Euachatina Shuttleworth, 1856
  • Geodes Gistel, 1848
  • Glandina (Achatina) Lamarck, 1799 (considered a separate genus)
  • Oncaea Gistel, 1848
  • Parachatina Bourguignat, 1889
  • Serpaea Bourguignat, 1889
  • Tripachatina Bourguignat, 1890 ·
  • Urceus Mörch, 1857

Distribution

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There are some 200 species of Achatinidae in Sub-Saharan Africa. Some species are kept as terrarium animals due to their size of three inches, and colourful shells.

Shell description

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Snails in this genus have medium to large shells which are ovate in shape and often colourfully streaked.

Species

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Species within the genus Achatina include:

incertae sedis:

  • Achatina vassei Germain, 1918 - The internal anatomy of this species is not known, and therefore the generic classification of ‘Achatina’ vassei cannot be made.[3]

Species brought into synonymy

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References

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  1. ^ Lamarck J.-B. (1799). Mém. Soc. Hist. nat. Paris 1: 75.
  2. ^ Bouchet, P. (2014). Achatina Lamarck, 1799. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=818098 on 2014-11-07
  3. ^ Bruggen A. C. van (2010). "A new record of ‘Achatina’ vassei Germain, 1918 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Achatinidae) from Mozambique – an unsolved problem". Zoologische Mededelingen 84. HTM Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ Du Cane Godman, Frederick. Annali Del Museo Civico Di Storia Naturale "Giacomo Doria", Museo civico di storia naturale, Genoa, 1916, p. 245
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