First records of the invasive snail Lissachatina immaculata (Lamarck, 1822) (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora: Achatinidae) in Suriname, with notes on its ecology and its potential as a pest species

The invasive but poorly researched African snail species Lissachatina immaculata (Lamarck, 1822) is recorded for the first time in Suriname.Based on data regarding its close congener L. fulica (Bowdich, 1822), this species may cause major crop damage due to grazing and its ability to spread various water moulds of the genus Phytophthora.Given L. fulica's ability to vector or harbour the helminths Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935), Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907 and a wide range of other parasites, L. immaculata potentially poses serious threats to the health of humans and livestock as well.To help assess and mitigate the problems the introduction of L. immaculata may cause, its life cycle and ecological niche are presented here, while potential ways of control and eradication are mentioned.For subjects on which data regarding L. immaculata could not be found, data on L. fulica are used as a substitute.