Fauna
Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 5190767

Draparnaud's Glass Snail

Oxychilus draparnaudi

Also known as Dark-bodied Glass Snail

Draparnaud's glass snails are fierce nocturnal predators wrapped in a smooth, translucent, amber-brown shell. Native to western and southern Europe, they have spread across urban and garden environments worldwide where they hunt other mollusks and soft-bodied invertebrates. When threatened, the snail retracts its dark blue-grey body into its shell but, unlike the garlic snail, gives off no garlic odor.

PredatoryTranslucent ShellNocturnal
Draparnaud's Glass Snail reference1 / 7
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
  • Smaller Snails
  • Earthworms
  • Slug Eggs
Predators
  • Ground Beetles
  • Toads
  • Thrushes
ThreatsExtreme drought, severe frost, pesticide application
HabitatsLeaf litter, gardens, greenhouses, stone walls, damp woodlands
Life span1–2 years
  1. OrderStylommatophora
  2. FamilyOxychilidae
  3. GenusOxychilus
  4. SpeciesOxychilus draparnaudi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Finding them: Check beneath damp flagstones, plant pots, and decaying leaf litter after rain.
  • Handling: Keep hands damp and handle gently to avoid crushing the delicate, glass-like shell.
  • Scent check: Unlike the garlic snail, it gives off no garlic smell when disturbed, which helps separate the two.
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