The Largest Snails in the World

With more than 40,000 species of snails in the world today — including land and sea snails — it is inevitable that they will have diverse appearances. Spread out across the world in all different habitats, from the most common of garden snails to sea snails, there is far more to snails than meets the eye. However, what are the largest snails in the world? You might not expect it, but some snails can be far larger than you would ever believe. Keep reading to discover the largest snails in the world.

#9: Mediterranean Green Snail

Starting our list off at number nine is the Mediterranean Green Snail. Also called the green snail, this species is easily identifiable by its green shell and can grow up to five inches in length. Originally from the Mediterranean and parts of Europe, it is now widespread across the world. It is classified as a pest due to its invasive nature and the damage that it causes to crops and vegetation.

#8: Achatina immaculata

Achatina immaculata is a species of snail that originated on the coast of East Africa but is now also found in South Africa. They are easily distinguished by their striped shells. They can grow to an adult size six inches in length. Achatina immaculata is also often called the pink-lipped agate snail due to the stunning pink edge, or lip, around the shell of most adults. These snails prefer a warm and humid environment and are often kept as pets.

#7: Apple Snails

Apple snails are a type of large freshwater snail that grows to around six inches long. They can be found in several different colors, including pink, brown, blue, and yellow. Apple snails originated in South America but quickly spread around the world and became known as pests. They have both gills and lungs, which means they can survive both in and out of the water. Apple snails are a popular pet and are often kept in fish tanks. However, despite their appealing appearance, apple snail eggs are actually extremely harmful to the touch. They contain a strong neurotoxin, as well as carrying a parasite called rat lungworm.

#6: Lissachatina (achatine) reticulata

Lissachatina (achatine) reticulata are a large species of land snail and are more commonly known as “Retics.” These snails can grow extremely quickly to a size of around seven inches in length. They are found mainly in Tanzania and on the southeast coast of Africa. They prefer a wet environment with a high level of humidity. These snails have a textured shell with a number of ridges and scratches on their surface. Their shells are brown, yellow, and orange with vertical streaks.

#5: Giant African Land Snail

The largest land snail in the world is believed to be the giant African land snail, which can grow to over eight inches long. These giants were originally from East Africa, but are now found on every continent except for Antarctica. They have dark brown shells and they reproduce extremely quickly. Giant African land snails are a highly invasive species and are known as major pests due to the damage they cause to plants and crops. They also carry a parasite that can cause meningitis in humans. It is illegal to own them in many places and their import is banned in the US.

#4: Giant Whelk

Filling the top spots on the list are sea snails, and next up is the giant whelk which is a sea snail that can grow to a shell length of around 10 inches. The giant whelk is found in the waters around Australia and Tasmania and eats crustaceans, worms, and other snails. Their shells are white to tan colored with distinctive brown spirals on the surface.

#3: Giant Triton

The giant Triton is a large sea snail that can grow to a length of around 20 inches. It is also called Triton’s trumpet, as the shell can be used to make a trumpet sound. They are commonly found in the Indo-Pacific oceans and are actually very important to the health of coral reefs. They are a natural predator of the highly venomous Crown-of-Thorn starfish, which feed on the reefs. As well as feeding on starfish, the giant Triton also eats other snails. It hunts by chasing its prey and then paralyzing it with its saliva. Their shells are usually either white or yellow-brown in color and have a spindle-like shape.

#2: Florida Horse Conch

The Florida horse conch is a sea snail that has a shell length of up to two feet. It is commonly found along the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. and is the largest snail that can be found in U.S. waters. It prefers to live in the sand and mud flats of the relatively shallow water along the coast. The Florida horse conch eats other snails and also hermit crabs. Its shell usually has many whorls on its surface and is a distinctive orange color that fades as the snail gets older.

#1: Australian Trumpet

Easily coming in at number one is the Australian Trumpet. It is a huge sea snail that is found in the waters around its native Northern Australia, as well as Eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. These giants can grow to around three feet and can weigh as much as 40 pounds. This massive size makes the Australian Trumpet the largest snail in the world. They are often hunted for both food and for their impressive shells, which are unique and highly collectible. Their shells are pale apricot or yellow color, and have a distinctive shape that is narrower at one end.