Lissachatina immaculata

44. Lissachatina immaculata (Lamarck, 1822) Distribution and year: Mosu 1975 (NMSA 2023); Francistown 1915 (van Bruggen 1966 a), 2018, 2019, 2020 (GBIF 2023 b); Gaborone 2021 (GBIF 2023 b); Serowe 2021 (GBIF 2023 b); east side of Makgadikgadi Salt Pan [MCZ:Mala:184606] 1854 (Harvard University M. & Morris 2024 b); Mmopane 2013 (GBIF 2023 b); farm ‘Gesond’, Tuli Block, at confluence of “Macloutsi” (Motloutse) and Limpopo rivers 1964 (van Bruggen 1966 a); Maun 2022 (GBIF 2023 b) Geographic range: Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe. Habitat: Terrestrial. Notes: The species thrives in the Southern African savannas (Fontanilla 2010) and occurs in leaf debris in dune forests, thickets, woodlands and also in novel habitats such as urban gardens (Herbert & Kilburn 2004). Lissachatina immaculata has spread and become invasive in other parts of the world, where it acts as an intermediate host for Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935), a nematode causing meningitis in humans (Wang et al. 2023). Type locality: Maputo, Mozambique (van Bruggen 1966 b). Sources: van Bruggen (1966 a: 109; 1966 b: 374); Govender (2007: 110) (all as Achatina immaculata); GBIF (2023 b). Conservation status: Not Evaluated.