[caption id="attachment_63450" align="aligncenter" width="500"] These giant snails are native to Africa but have recently invaded Miami’s ecosystem. More than 78, 000 have already been removed, but wiping them out completely is quite difficult as they can lay up to 1200 eggs per year. Additionally, it eats at least 500 different agricultural crops, can cause damage to plaster and stucco on homes. (photo courtesy coralreefcat)[/caption]

(eCanadaNow) - The recent discovery of a Giant African Snail in Australia which measured about 4-inches in circumference brought swift action from officials who killed the mollusk and declared it an invasive species that posed a threat to the country's native vegetation. Giant African Snails are the largest of any snail variety and can also prove to be among the most damaging.

Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry maintains an ongoing program to keep these predatory pests out of the Land Down Under.

How the Giant African Snail found crawling in a container yard in Brisbane managed to get there is unknown, but once the animal had been identified as a threat to Australia's delicate native system of plants and trees, it was destroyed using humane methods.

Originally native to Eastern Africa, Giant African Snails have been classified as one of the worst invasive species found on Earth. Not only are they capable of destroying Australia's eucalypts, they can also decimate fruit and vegetable crops.

On The Web:

Giant African Snail Killed In Australia To Protect Native Agriculture
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/giant-african-snail-killed-in-australia_n_2862744.html?flv=1