Awhile back I posted a snap of this little guy:
Well, “little”. Actually he’s about 4 inches long.
I sent the pictures to Max Anton, aka the Mollusk Man, who has a great website about mollusks in the Houston area. He identifies this ferocious beast as a Euglandina rosea, the Rosy Wolfsnail:
This is indeed a Euglandina rosea, though it appears to be slightly elongated, thus resembling an E. singleyana. It is a native species and poses no threat to vegetation. Because it eats harmful pest snails, it should be treated carefully and not be harmed. If you wish, you can place one in a jar and watch it feed on pest snails. It’s a pretty creepy thing to see.
As you have already noticed, RWS’s are audacious creatures, quick to ignore handling procedures and external stimuli. Few other species possess so bold a nature, allowing this snail to be a most excellent species to display for educational purposes.
I turned him loose next to the garden fountain and have not seen him since, but I presume he’s still there, guarding the flora against his fellow mollusks.
Thanks, Max, for the confirmation.