Snails

Parts of a snail

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Common snail identification guide 

Start here:

• Shell length greater than width

• ​shell wider than long 

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Shell longer than wide

• shell opening less than half the length of shell - Cochlicopa lubrica, glossy pillar

Cochlicopa lubrica, glossy pillar

•  Shell opening half or more the length of the shell - Succineidae, amber snails 
  
  
  

Succineidae, amber snails

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Shell wider than long

• mottled, banded, or striped shell

• without mottling, stripes, or bands, shell basically of one color

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Mottled, banded, or striped shell

1. Edge of shell angled or narrowly rounded-  Candidula intersecta, wrinkled dune snail 

Candidula intersecta, wrinkled dune snail

2. Edge of shell evenly rounded and...

...body cream to tan. Umbilicus partially to completely covered- Cepaea nemoralis, grove snail

Cepaea nemoralis, grove snail

...body brown. Umbilicus partially to completely covered (as above). Shell brown with lighter brown broken bands and some irregular cream-yellow streaks - Cornu aspersum, European brown garden snail.

Cornu aspersum, European brown garden snail

...body reddish brown. Umbilicus open. Shell yellow-brown to dark red-brown with yellow and black stripes. - Monadenia columbianus, Pacific sideband.

umbilicus open

Monadenia columbianus, Pacific sideband

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Shell of one color (no bands or stripes)

1. Spiral grooves on at least inner whorls of shell (results in a “beaded” appearance)-Ancotrema and Haplotrema, lancetooth snails 

  

Ancotrema and Haplotrema, lancetooth snails

2. No spiral grooves on whorls of shell and...

...shell shiny and smooth and never with “hairs.” Lip of shell convex- Oxychilus sp., glass snails 

Oxychilus, glass snails

...shell usually with “hairs.” Edge of shell of adults with upturned lip - Vespericola sp., hesperian snails.

Vespericola sp., hesperian snails