The Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum) is an air-breathing pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the Helicidae family of terrestrial (land) snails. It is an invertebrate, because it does not have a backbone. Its shell is its exo-skeleton (outside skeleton).
The Garden Snail can be varied in colour, but its shell is mainly dark-brown, with stripes, flecks, or streaks in a lighter colour. The shell has a right-handed whorl, which is called a dextral shell.It has a brown lip. Its head extends to form a snout (proboscis). It has tentacles on its head. Its eyes are at the tip of the tentacles.
It can grow to about 5 centimetres (2 inches) in diameter.
It is widely seen and common in the Mediterranean region, as well as in northwest Africa, and Iberia to the United Kingdom. It likes a wide range of habitats from coastlines to woodlands.
It is usually diurnal, active mainly during the day. In winter, it may hibernate, but can become active again during warm days.
The Garden Snail is herbivorous, feeding on plants and decaying plant matter.
It is hermaphroditic, which means that it is both male and female. It lays about 30-50 eggs, which hatch after 15-20 days. The eggs are deposited in a leaf, usually in the rainy season.
Location of photographs: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM