Cernuella virgata explained

Cernuella virgata, also known as Helicella virgata, common name, the "vineyard snail", is a species of small, air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Geomitridae.[1]

This species of snail makes and uses love darts.

Shell description

The shell is from 6 to 19 mm in height and 8 to 25 mm in width.

The coloration of the shell is quite variable, but there is often a creamy-white background, with a variable number of pale to darker brown markings. Some shells are banded at the periphery and on the underside.

Technical description

For terms see gastropod shell

The 15 x 12–23 mm. shell has 4.5–5.5 convex whorls. The last whorl is initially angulated or rounded. The aperture is rounded with a whitish or reddish lip inside and margin is not reflected, The umbilicus is always open, 1/10-1/6 of shell diameterand sometimes slightly excentric. The colour of the periostracum is whitish or yellowish, sometimes with red hue and usually with two brown colour bands on the upper side and 3–4 narrower bands on the lower side, initially finely ribbed, weakly striated at lower whorls.[2]

Distribution

This snail is endemic to Mediterranean and Western Europe, including the British Isles.[3] This species has been recovered from the Roman occupation of Volubilis, an archaeological site in present-day Morocco.[4]

Cernuella virgata is an invasive species and an agricultural pest in parts of Australia, where it arrived around 1920. In Australia it is known as the "common white snail".[5] [6]

Another land snail which is present as an invasive in Australia, and which is sometimes confused with Cernuella virgata is the species Theba pisana. It is somewhat similar in appearance, and lives under similar circumstances. Theba pisana is however a larger species with a more inflated shell, lower spire and a nearly covered umbilicus.

Comparison between shells of Cernuella virgata and Theba pisana:

Behavior and human relevance

This species aestivates after climbing to the top of vegetation (or fences). This habit is problematic for farmers engaged in crop harvesting, because numerous snails are collected along with the crop.

Life cycle

The size of the egg is 1.5 mm.[7]

Parasites

Cernuella virgata is as intermediate host for the terrestrial trematode parasite Brachylaima cribbi.[8]

Gastronomy

Cernuella virgata, with Theba pisana, is consumed in Spain as a "tapa" in the bars, especially in Andalusia, where snails are known as "Chichos" snails.[9]

Synonyms

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Cernuella virgata (Da Costa, 1778). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=426375 on 5 August 2020
  2. Web site: AnimalBase :: Cernuella virgata species homepage. www.animalbase.uni-goettingen.de. 15 October 2022.
  3. Kerney M.P. & Cameron R. A. D., 1979. A field guide to the land snails of Britain and northwestern Europe. Collins, London, .
  4. C. Michael Hogan (2007) Volubilis, The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=14906
  5. Barker G. M. 2004. Natural Enemies of Terrestrial Molluscs, CABI Publishing, 644 pp.,
  6. http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/attachments/lbun-74l3nm/$file/white%20snails%20c%20virgata%20fact%20sheet.pdf Common white snail or Mediterranean white snail
  7. Heller J.: Life History Strategies. in Barker G. M. (ed.): The biology of terrestrial molluscs. CABI Publishing, Oxon, UK, 2001, . 1–146, cited page: 428.
  8. Butcher A. R. & Grove D. I.: Seasonal variation in rates of sporocyst and metacercarial infection by Brachylaima cribbi in helicid and hygromiid land snails on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. – Australian Journal of Zoology, 2006, 53(6): 375–382.
  9. Web site: Helix de Córdoba. 15 October 2022.

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