SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.7 issue2Habitat use and surface activity scorpion Centruroides margaritatus in Palo Verde, Guanacaste National Park, Costa RicaDoes ingestion by birds affect Pyracantha atalantoides (Rosaceae) seed germination? author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

Related links

Share


Cuadernos de Investigación UNED

Print version ISSN 1659-4266

Abstract

AVENDANO, José M.  and  LINARES, Edgar L.. Morfometría del caracol gigante africano Achatina fulica (Gastropoda: Achatinidae) en Colombia. Cuadernos de Investigación UNED [online]. 2015, vol.7, n.2, pp.287-293. ISSN 1659-4266.

The giant African snail is currently one of the most aggressive and invasive species that has colonized many countries outside its natural environment. We recorded four shell measures and the weight of 3 157 individuals of Achatina fulica collected in Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Meta, Norte de Santander and Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Larger and heavier individuals were collected in the Meta and Boyacá departments while the highest density per square meter was recorded in Cundinamarca. We found a strong, positive and highly significant (p<0.01) correlation among measured variables. During development maximum sizes of shell, opening and body weight are correlated, and shell length increases faster than the other measures, leading to a marked elongation of the individuals. The settling time of the populations was also reflected in the size of individuals.

Keywords : Giant African snail; growth; allometry; ontogeny; morphometrics.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )