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escar-WHOA!

A moment ago I was reading the Wikipedia entry on snails after watching a bit on the Food Network about escargot. The Wikipedia entry made a passing reference to the “giant African snail”. Sure, I thought, giant snails. Those have to be what, a couple inches long? Well, that’s kind of neat. So I checked Google Images to find a picture that would give me some sense of scale, and I found:

Now that is a giant snail. Apparently they can grow up to a foot long. The page that picture came from suggests they’re not native to West Virginia, but wherever they are native to, they look like this.

I wonder if they get along with cats.

Comments 16

  1. anonymous wrote: Posted 01 Jan 2001 at 12:00 am
  2. luser wrote:

    holy cow! those are huge!

    Posted 19 Jan 2006 at 8:39 pm
  3. substitute wrote:

    I hope they’re really FAST, too.

    Posted 19 Jan 2006 at 9:41 pm
  4. brianenigma wrote:

    Does anyone have any salt?

    Posted 19 Jan 2006 at 9:48 pm
  5. Rich wrote:

    Posted 19 Jan 2006 at 9:55 pm
  6. nikolasco wrote:

    I had to dissect some worms once, and thought they were pretty giant, at about 10 inches. Then I found giant Australian earthworms, which are about 2.6 feet long.

    Posted 19 Jan 2006 at 11:20 pm
  7. fweebles wrote:

    “Giant” seems to take on a greater meaning when applied to Things African in general.

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 12:17 am
  8. eyeteeth wrote:

    For example, please enjoy this African Gambian giant pouched rat, shown here with ordinary Norway rats for size comparison. Gambians are often called the largest rat species, though they are not true rats (subfamily Murinae) but rather a really huge rodent that happens to be shaped like a rat. Either way the point is HOLY CRAP ENORMOUS.

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 2:11 am
  9. gcrumb wrote:

    Hey I resemble that photo!

    Seriously, They were introduced into Vanuatu. On top of everything else, they’re poisonous. They get on the lettuce, watercress and other local leafy greens and render them very dangerous to eat. We have to soak all local greens in a mild bleach solution, which makes those delicate salad dressings I’m so famous for[*] completely useless.

    [*] Not.

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 2:13 am
  10. eyeteeth wrote:

    I read that their mucus can transmit meningitis. Quick, can you touch your chin to your chest?

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 2:30 am
  11. gcrumb wrote:

    No I can’t, but I hardly think that’s any reason tosaasdaslcn as.$%)(*^+++NO CARRIER

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 4:20 am
  12. Rich wrote:

    Like “poisonous” to Australia!

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 9:17 am
  13. Rich wrote:

    Shadow and Ashes seem slightly uncomfortable.

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 9:18 am
  14. spratt wrote:

    Like RACING snails?

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 10:48 am
  15. spratt wrote:

    Also, the first thing I thought was “GARY!” (from Spongebob. I am insane.)

    Here is a picture. In the cartoon, he meows like a cat.

    Posted 20 Jan 2006 at 10:51 am
  16. lamingtons wrote:

    “…Aside from its clean, safe cities, constant sunshine and cheerful people, this region also hosts some very aggressive and dangerous life forms including sharks, crocodiles, the 10 most deadly poisonous snakes on the planet, toxic caterpillars and the extremely dangerous box jellyfish….”

    And don’t even think of going into the Flinders Hotel on a Friday night :)

    Posted 22 Jan 2006 at 11:45 pm