Snails

Giant African land snail, Siput babi
Achatina fulica

This invasive species is the largest snail in urban Malaysian gardens. Its shell can grow up to 15-20cm tall but relatively smaller in gardens. It has a brown, striped shell with tall spire. This snail feeds on decaying plant materials and fresh plant shoots.

Local name: Siput babi

Activity pattern: Nocturnal

Ecological function: Prey-predator relationship, detritivore

Level in food chain: Primary consumer

Feeding behaviour: Herbivore, detritivore

Food items: Leaves, dropped fruits, decaying tree trunks and branches; fresh vegetables

Microhabitat:  Hides in cool and wet environments like under rocks, flower pots, in crevices, in leaf litter under trees. Sometimes climbs and adheres to tree trunks at fairly high areas above ground.

Glossy garden snail
Sarika sp.

It has a very flat shell with flat spire. The shell is brown, glossy and has many whorls (spirals). The size of shell varies from 2 to 4 cm wide. It has worm-like appendages organ called the mantle lobe that extends from its main body and wiggles on the outer surface of the shell. Not much is known about the role of this mantle lobe but it is suspected to be useful for the snail to maintain a clean, healthy and glossy shell. Free vacuum service, am I right?

Local name: –

Activity pattern: Nocturnal

Ecological function: Prey-predator relationship, scavenger

Level in food chain: Primary and secondary consumer

Feeding behaviour: Omnivore, detritivore

Food items: Leaves, dropped fruits, decaying tree trunks and branches; fresh vegetables; dead animal meat

Microhabitat:  Hides in cool and wet environments like under rocks, flower pots, in crevices, in leaf litter under trees.

Asian tramp snail
Bradybaena similaris

It has semi-globular shell with flat spire. The shell is brown with occasional dark brown band at periphery. Shell size is around 1 to 2 cm wide. This snail is a hermaphrodite i.e. it has both male and female reproductive organs! During mating, one will stab the other with its love dart to inject hormones that encourage each other to mate and exchange genetic materials.

Local name: –

Activity pattern: Nocturnal

Ecological function: Predator, prey-predator relationship

Level in food chain: Primary and secondary consumer

Feeding behaviour: Omnivore

Food items: Fresh leaves, fungi, snail eggs

Microhabitat:  Hides in cool and wet environments like under rocks, flower pots, in crevices, in leaf litter under trees. Sometimes it climbs on low trees or shrubs, adhering to underside of leaves.

Bioluminescent garden snail
Quantula striata

The only bioluminescent land snail in the world. It has a special organ on its head that flashes a yellow-green light especially during juvenile stage. However, this phenomenon is rarely observed despite the snail being common in Malaysia. This snail has relatively flattish shell with somewhat tall spire. The shell is many whorled, dark to light brown at the top and whitish at the bottom. Size is around 3 to 5 cm wide.

Local name: –

Activity pattern: Nocturnal

Ecological function: Predator, prey-predator relationship

Level in food chain: Primary and secondary consumer

Feeding behaviour: Omnivore

Food items: Decaying plant materials like leaves, dropped fruits, decaying tree trunks and branches; snail eggs

Microhabitat: Hides in cool and wet environments like under rocks, flower pots, in crevices, in leaf litter under trees during the day. Sometimes climbs on low trees or shrubs, adhering to underside of leaves.