The Vineyard Snail (Cernuella virgata or Helicella virgata) is a pulmonate air-breathing gastropod mollusc in the Geomitridae family of terrestrial (land) hairy snails. It is also known as the Common White Snail.
The Vineyard Snail usually has a creamy-white shell with fine growth lines. It has a darker line and white line along the outside of its shell. However, its shell can be variable. It has whorls, and the last whorl is slightly rounded. It has a brown mouth with pink inside. It shell is faintly glossy. Its body is grey.
It measures about 2 centimetres (one inch) in diameter.
It can be found in the Mediterranean and western Europe, including in the United Kingdom.
It is usually diurnal, active mainly during the day. In winter, it may hibernate, but can become active again during warm days.
The Vineyard 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 photograph: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM