Today, there are more than 40,000 species of snails in the world, including land, marine and freshwater, so a variety of their appearance is inevitable. Distributed throughout the world in a wide variety of habitats, from the most common garden snails to sea snails, snails are much more than meets the eye. But what are the largest snails in the world? You might not expect this, but some snails can be much larger than you might expect. Keep reading to discover the largest snails in the world (the largest weighs over 30 pounds)!
# 9: Mediterranean green snail
The Mediterranean green snail begins at number nine on our list. This species, also called the green snail, is easily recognizable by its green shell and can grow to a shell size of 10-12 cm (up to 5 inches) in length. Native to the Mediterranean and parts of Europe, it is now widespread throughout the world and is classified as a pest due to its invasive nature and damage to crops and vegetation.
# 8: Achatina vulgaris
Achatina Immaculata is a snail species that originated off the coast of East Africa but is now found in South Africa. They are easily distinguished by their striped shell and can grow to an adult size of 15 cm (6 inches) in length. The Achatina Immaculata is also often referred to as the pink-lipped agate snail due to the stunning pink rim (lip) around the shell of most adults. These snails prefer warm and humid environments and are often kept as pets.
# 7: apple snails
Apple snails are a variety of large freshwater snails that often grow up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) in length and come in a variety of colors, including brown, blue, and yellow. They originated in South America but quickly spread throughout the world and became known as pests. They are especially unique as they have both gills and lungs, which means they can survive both in and out of water, and they often leave the water when there is not enough food for them. Apple snails are a popular pet and are often kept in aquariums along with fish. However, they usually eat dead fish, but they have also been known to eat sick or dying fish if they are in the same tank as them.
Apple snails usually lay their eggs outside the water, and they are often bright pink or red in color. However, despite their attractive appearance, apple snail eggs are actually extremely harmful to the touch and contain a strong neurotoxin and are also carriers of a parasite called rat lungworm.
# 6: Lissachatina (Achatine) Reticulata.
Lissachatina (Achatine) Reticulata is a large land snail, better known as the “Retics”. These snails can grow very quickly to a size of about 18 cm (7 inches) in length and are found mainly in Tanzania and the southeast coast of Africa, where they prefer a humid environment with high levels of humidity. They have a particularly distinctive shell as it differs in texture from most other snails, their shell has many ridges and surface scratches. In addition to these ridges, their shells come in a variety of brown, yellow and orange colors with vertical stripes.
# 5: Giant African Land Snail
The largest land snail in the world is the giant African land snail. (lissachatina fulica) which can grow up to 20 cm (8 inches) in length. These giants are native to East Africa, but now they can be found all over the world on all continents except Antarctica. They have a dark brown shell and reproduce very quickly. They are highly invasive species and are known as major pests because they wreak havoc on plants and crops and spread disease – they even carry parasites that can cause meningitis in humans. As a result, possession of them is illegal in many places and importation is prohibited in the United States.
Their conservation status is of least concern and more information can be found on our African Land Snail page.
# 4: giant dragon
First on the list are sea snails, followed by the giant puffin, which is a sea snail that can reach about 26 cm (10 inches) in shell length. The giant cub is found in the waters around Australia and Tasmania and feeds on crustaceans, worms and other snails. Their shells are often yellowish-brown or orange-brown in color, and on the surface they have many characteristic curls and stripes.
# 3: giant newt
The Giant Newt is a large sea snail that can grow up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) in length. It is also often referred to as Triton’s trumpet because a trumpet sound can be emitted from a shell. They are commonly found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and are actually very important for the health of coral reefs as they are the natural predators of the highly venomous Crown of Thorns starfish that feed on reefs. In addition to feeding on starfish, the giant newt also eats other snails and hunts by stalking its prey and then paralyzing it with saliva. Their shells are usually white or yellow-brown in color and are spindle-shaped.
# 2: Florida Conch
Triplofus giantThe shell, also known as the Florida horse, is a sea snail whose shell is 60 centimeters (two feet) long. It is commonly found on the Atlantic coast of the United States and is the largest snail to be found in US waters. It prefers to live in sandy and muddy shoals in relatively shallow waters along the coast and feeds on other snails as well as hermit crabs. Its shell usually has many curls on the surface and has a characteristic orange color in young individuals, which fades somewhat as the snail matures.
# 1: Australian trumpet
Number one is easily the Australian Trumpet, a huge sea snail found in the waters around its native northern Australia, as well as in eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. These giants can grow to a whopping 91 cm (3 ft) long and weigh around 18 kg (40 lb)! This huge size makes the Australian pipe the largest snail in the world.
Their diet usually consists of sea worms, but little is known about them, however, they are often hunted for both food and their impressive shells. Australian pipe shells are especially unique and highly collectible. Their shells are usually pale in color, sometimes pale yellow, and have a characteristic shape that is narrower at one end.