Snails
Snails arrive on islands either by being dropped by a bird, attached to a floating log or object that has been blown to sea or by accidentally being transported by boat. All of the snails on the Cayman Islands are completely harmless.
The Little Cayman Snail (Cerion nanus)
The Little Cayman Snail is an endemic land snail on Little Cayman, hosting an intricate, light gray or brown shell about a centimeter long – half the size of the more commonly found species Cerion pannosum. First described in 1888, this species feeds only on the shrub Evolvulus squamosus. In fact, they are only found on one patch (which is approximately the size of a tennis court) , making this species not only “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List but it is also one of the most restricted snail populations…on earth.
During the dry season, the snails hide in rocks, dead wood or in the very bottom of the Evolvulus squamosus shrub. During the wet season they are more visible, attached to higher parts of the shrub.
Invasive Jamaican Tree Snail (Orthalicus undatus)
Originally from Jamaica, it has been suggested that this species arrived onGrand Caymanin the 1930’s as juveniles on potted plants. Their shell is much larger than the Little Cayman Snail with 4- 5 large whorls with deep purple bands over a light brown base colour. As their name suggests they are most often found on tree trunks and branches. None currently are found on Little Cayman or Cayman Brac but they have the potential to spread.
Invasive Cuban Garden Snail (Zachrysia provisoria)
The Cuban Garden Snail, sometimes called Garden Zacrysia, is found inFlorida, and few Caribbean Islands including, Jamaica, Bahamas, and Puerto Rico. It can be identified by it’s brown shell (25-30mm long) with 4-5 wide whorls and occasional light brown axial streaks.
This species was introduced in Florida from Cuba, and most likely invaded the Cayman Islands through the Floridian nursery trade. Most prominent in the rainy season, they eat ornamental plants such as Bougainvillea and are considered huge garden pests to horticulturalists. Like the Jamaican Tree Snail, they have only been found on Grand Cayman but could potentially spread to the Sister Islands.
Highly Invasive Rosy Wolf Snail (Euglandina rosea)
Carnivorous
Euglandina rosea (the Rosy Wolf Snail or Cannibal Snail), is an invasive carnivorous snail that eats other snails and slugs. The Rosy Wolf Snail is a major contributor to the extinction of 234 mollusc species in Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, China, Japan, India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Sabah and Sri Lanka, Bahamas, Bermuda, Hawaii, American Samoa, Micronesia, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It is on the IUCN’s top 100 most invasive species.
Originally from the Southern United States, the Rosy Wolf Snail lives in hardwood forests, shrubs and gardens and are most active in the months of April and May. These snails are hermaphrodites (both male and female) and can lay 25-35 eggs in the soil which hatch after 30-40 days. An adult snail ranges in size from 7 to 10 cm (3-4 in), where the dimensions of its oblong shell are about 46-76mm long (1.8-3 in) and 21-27.5mm (.8 – 1 in) in diameter. The shape of the glossy shell pattern is unique, with the first three whorls being smooth and the rest irregularly sculptured with fine longitudinal grooves. It is important to note there are no spiral grooves on the shell and it can vary in colour from brownish pink to brownish orange. The snail’s face is very distinct with chemosensory (taste & smell) moustache looking tentacles below its eye stocks, used for following the slime trails of other snails while hunting (GISB, 2023 and CABI 2019).
If you come across this snail please capture it and send a photo with the location and date to DOE@gov.ky. Thank you for doing your part in protecting Cayman’s native wildlife.