First record of body colour polymorphism in giant African snail Achatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) - a comparative study using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene

Abstract

The presence of the body colour polymorphism in the tropical invasive pest giant African snail is reported for the first time from South India. Three different body colour polymorphs were recognised viz. grey, black and white. The grey body colour is the most common polymorph. The black and white colour polymorphs are found to be in almost equal proportions in the reported localities with the grey counterparts. The cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of the three colour polymorphs are found to be identical. The presence of the body colour polymorphism in south India may be attributed to the avian predation and other selection pressures.