Megalobulimus oblongus

Family

Megabulimidae

Species

Megalobulimus oblongus (Muller, 1774)

Common name

Giant South American snail

Description

The shellShell:
A hard, inflexible, calcareous or chitinous structure that vary in size and may either completely encasing the animal, covering some part of it or be internal.
of this species will vary in color from brown, to tan, to pinkish. There are no color markings on the shellShell:
A hard, inflexible, calcareous or chitinous structure that vary in size and may either completely encasing the animal, covering some part of it or be internal.
. It may grow as high as 70-100 mm, with 5.5-6 whorlsWhorls:
Pleural of whorl. A whorl is a complete spiral turn/growth of the shell of a mollusc. The whorls are counted from the apex outwards.
. The apertural (mouth) lipLip:
The margin of the aperture, which may be sharp or thickened depending upon the species (Also see apertural lip).
in adults of this species is pink. The umbilicusUmbilicus:
A navel-like indentation or depression in the center of the shell. It may be described as open (inside of columella visible), partially closed (partly covered by base of aperture) or completely closed (not visible). The width of the umbilicus is a measure of its greatest diameter.
(navel) is covered by the columellaColumella:
The central axis of the shell; originates at the shell apex and ends at the umbilicus.
(lip of mouth). This species is very similar in appearance to the giant African snails; however, obvious differences include:

• The whorlWhorl:
  A complete spiral turn/growth of the shell of a mollusc. The whorls are counted from the apex outwards.
  just above the body whorlBody whorl:
  The large, final coil (most recently formed) of a mollusc shell that contains the body of the snail, i.e. from the aperture to approximately one whorl back.
  has a characteristic bulge.
• The body of the animal has a softer, gelatinous texture, when compared to the more leathery feeling of the acahtinids.
• They produce less slime.

Native range

South America

Distribution

Caribbean: Barbados, Jamaica

South America: Uraguay, Brazil, Argentina

Synonyms

• Strophocheilus oblongus

References

Abbott 1989; Rosenberg and Muratov 2006