About Liguus fasciatus (O.F.Müller, 1774)
The shells of Liguus fasciatus grow between 42 and 68 millimeters (1.7 to 2.7 inches) long. These shells are polished and shiny, and their base color ranges from white to nearly black, with colored bands on their whorls. Band colors include chestnut, orange, yellow, pink, and green. Liguus fasciatus is a tree snail that feeds by scraping fungus and algae from the bark of its host plants. Its most common host plants are wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum), pigeon plum (Coccoloba diversifolia), and species in the genus Myrsine. These snails are most commonly encountered from May through September, but they remain active all year round. Liguus fasciatus is the most widely distributed species in the genus Liguus. It occurs in the Caribbean bioregion, specifically in South Florida, the Florida Keys, Cuba, and Isla de la Juventud. In southern Florida, this tree snail lives on hammocks, tropical forests, and shrub habitats that sit at slightly higher elevations than the surrounding surrounding landscape.
