what is this snail please?

Birdwatchers · #1 (**permalink**) 24-03-2010, 08:39 AM

Fauna · #2 (**permalink**) 24-03-2010, 09:30 AM

Hi there, this could be one of the many colour forms of the Banded snail. Not really sure of which...Cepaea hortensis or Cepaea nemoralis.

Do you know it's size?
Have you got a pic of its underneath showing its umbilicus?

I have sent you pm of some interesting links on the colour forms and distrubution of these snails, if indeed it is one of the mentioned species.

Birdwatchers · #3 (**permalink**) 24-03-2010, 09:33 AM

Thank you, I think it is a Banded snail because it was found around many other banded snails but I didn't know they come in colours like that. Sorry, I only have that photo and it has probably disappeared by now.

Birdwatchers · #4 (**permalink**) 24-03-2010, 09:52 AM

Wow, those links are fascinating; thank you for sending them to me. I didn't realise there was such variation in those snails and how important it was. I may even do a survey for them myself as I have seen loads around here.

Hedera · #5 (**permalink**) 24-03-2010, 01:29 PM

Cepea nemoralis has a dark lip to the shell; so this is probably hortensis. The umbilicus is deeper too.

Fauna · #6 (**permalink**) 24-03-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedera

Cepea nemoralis has a dark lip to the shell; so this is probably hortensis. The umbilicus is deeper too.

Hi Hedera

What you say here is reliable in the majority of cases. You must be carefull with some, for there can be populations of C.nemoralis with a white lip and C.hortensis with a brown lip. This can cause confusion in identifying these snails, escpecially when the colour morph is not of the "norm" and found on its own. Its best to sample a few in the area to help to confirm id, the odd coloured lipped forms will be of the minority in that population...hope this helps.

No probs with the links Birdwatchers...i hope you can contribute to the survey for it all helps.