Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 2294279
White-lipped Snail
Cepaea hortensisAlso known as Garden Banded Snail, White-lipped Banded Snail
White-lipped snails exhibit extreme shell polymorphism, displaying shell colors from bright yellow to warm brown with variable dark spiral bands. They spend their days grazing on algae, lichens, and decaying organic matter across diverse temperate landscapes. During courtship, these simultaneous hermaphrodites dart each other with calcium structures before transferring sperm to ensure reproductive success.
PolymorphicHermaphroditeMollusk
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Algae
- Decaying Leaves
- Fungi
Predators
- Song Thrush
- Hedgehogs
- Ground Beetles
ThreatsPesticide application, habitat destruction, and vehicle mortality
HabitatsGardens, hedgerows, woodlands, and coastal dunes
Life span3–5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderStylommatophora
- FamilyHelicidae
- GenusCepaea
- SpeciesCepaea hortensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Examine the aperture: Look for the distinct white rim along the shell opening to confirm identification.
- Search after rain: Spot them active during damp mornings, humid days, or immediately following rainfall.
Predator (c) Вячеслав Юсупов, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Вячеслав Юсупов · cc-by
Competitor "Garden Snail" by SidPix is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative "Grove snail" by hedera.baltica is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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