Morphometric Differentiation between Two Closely Related Achatinid Snails (Gastropoda: Achatinidae) of West Africa and Implications for the Conservation of <i>Achatina togoensis</i> (Bequaert & Clench, 1934)

Achatina togoensis is a giant land snail taxa endemic to the northern sectors of Monts Togo, which has been regarded as full species or subspecies highly variable, widespread A. achatina (L.). To address this issue, samples snails were taken throughout distribution range two in Dahomey Gap (West Africa) and separated into 112 141 according color columella parietal wall. Radulae compared shell characters these 2 evaluated through traditional morphometric method. The results indicate that cannot be distinguished by overall size radular morphology, but they exhibit significant differences shape meristic traits. typical with vinaceous-red low-spired an expanded aperture (globose shape) whereas higher-spired smaller (a fusiform shape). We suggest local environmental effects are probably causes morphological divergence between taxa. It likely peripheral populations form would have isolated developed drier facies humid forest individualized sector mountains after arid interpluvial period Holocene. In addition, we find meets criteria B2ab (ii, iii) categorize “Endangered”. However, whether latter should considered separate decided at current state knowledge.