The Grove Unbanded Snail – Yellow Form (Cepaea nemoralis) is an air-breathing pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the Helicidae family of terrestrial (land) snails. It is a variant of the Grove Snail, also known as the Brown-Lipped Snail. It is an invertebrate, because it does not have a backbone. Its shell is its exo-skeleton (outside skeleton).

The Grove Unbanded Snail – Yellow Form can be varied in its appearance. The surface of its shell is semi-glossy. The shell has a right-handed whorl, which is called a dextral shell. The colour of the Grove Snail’s shell can be reddish, brownish, yellow, or creamy-white, with or without bands. The Grove Unbanded Snail – Yellow Form has a light, creamy yellow shell. It does not have prominent dark-brown bands or stripes. It has a white lip, not 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 measures about 2.5 centimetres (one inch) in diameter.

It is common across western Europe. 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 Grove Unbanded Snail – Yellow Form is herbivorous, feeding on 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. 

The Grove Unbanded Snail – Yellow Form lives for about 7-8 years. 

Location of photographs: Paris, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM