Photo of the day (12): A snail twin
15-06-2008 14:05
Francisco Borrero sent me some pictures from his
recent trip to Ecuador. This one is from a pair of
snails (probably Sultana sp.) which were said to have
been collected locally around Mindo, Prov. Pichincha.
They were kept as pets by a young girl in the
village.
Update: Carl C. Christensen suggested that this species may be Achatina fulica, the Giant African Snail which is an agricultural pest and an intermediate host of angiostrongyliasis, a zoonose that may cause meningitis. Carl kindly drew my attention to the fact that these snails now seem to be cultured in Ecuador and are exported as "Chinese Escargot".
CORPEI is a private nonprofit institution, regarded by the Government of Ecuador "as the official body of the promotion of exports and investments of Ecuador".
Update: Carl C. Christensen suggested that this species may be Achatina fulica, the Giant African Snail which is an agricultural pest and an intermediate host of angiostrongyliasis, a zoonose that may cause meningitis. Carl kindly drew my attention to the fact that these snails now seem to be cultured in Ecuador and are exported as "Chinese Escargot".
CORPEI is a private nonprofit institution, regarded by the Government of Ecuador "as the official body of the promotion of exports and investments of Ecuador".