Two giant african land snail species spread to Martinique, French West Indies

The American tropics, long known to be vulnerable to the depredations of the giant African land snails, have recently been penetrated by Achatina fulica , endemic in East Africa, and Limicolaria aurora , endemic in West Africa. Both species can produce extraordinarily heavy infestations, cause serious damage to crops, carry agents of human diseases, and aggressively compete with or replace endemic snail species. Concerted efforts are being made to contain the infestations. Achatina is a vector for Aeromonas hydrophila .