Burgundy snail (Helix pomatia)

Scientific classification:

Superfamily: Helicoidea

Family: Helicidae

Subfamily: Helicinae

Tribe: Helicini

Genus: Helix

Distribution:

Native in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Eastern France, Northern Italy, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Western Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Romania and South-East European countries. Not native in the following countries: Sweden, Norway and Finland, the central and southern parts, where the monks deployed this snail in the Middle Ages. Helix pomatia brought to England by the Romans, but only in the southern calcareous areas could survive, now protected in the UK.

Habitat:

Sparse, moist soils of broadleaved forests, gardens, parks, meadows and bushes.

Morphology, structure:

The snail's head is small, on its located the mouth, surmounted by the tentacles. There are mechanoreceptors on the surface of the tentacles, at the end of that light-sensitive cells are located. The Burgundy snail is a gastropoda. Between the mouth and the edge of the feet there is a large gland. The excretion of this gland makes slippery the surface of the feet, only on that the snail can slips along.

The most characteristic morphological feature of the Helix pomatia is the external calcareous skeleton, the shell. The shell is multi-layered, inside a thin pearly coat is located, in the middle there is a thick crystalline lime layer, while the outside layer is protein and chitin. The shell is grows throughout the lifetime of the animal.

Feeding:

This snail is a herbivore, it grinds the plant parts with its raspy tongue. It eats the plants in our gardens too, therefore constitutes directly as a pest to humans (unless you count the snail itself as a source of nutrients).

Reproduction:

The snails are hermaphrodites, but they need a partner to laying the eggs. Both snail are impregnates during the mating. They lays their eggs into small holes in the soil, which are immediately buried, therefore the snailnests are difficult to find.

Role in the ecosystem:

As a herbivore living on the surface of the soil is significant as a mold maker, but both the eggs and the adult animal are constitutes as source of nutrients for many animals. Last but not least Helix pomatia is consumed by the man too.

Conservation status:

Protected animal in Hungary (!), goodwill value is 2000 Ft. The snail collection has been allowed for a specified period of time, but in Natural Protected areas is also prohibited then!