Description: A medium to large globular shell with a slightly conical spire of 5½ moderately convex whorls and shallow sutures. Aperture with a thickened dark brown lip. Umbilicus closed. Surface glossy, yellow through brown to red or pink with up to five dark spiral bands which may be missing or fused. Very common. 18-25 mm.

World Distribution: Unlike the very similar Cepaea hortensis, which is circumpolar, this species is confined to central and western Europe south to the Mediterranean. Distribution type: European Southern-temperate (83).

Irish Distribution: Frequent throughout but most abundant in coastal localities, particularly dunes.

Ecology:

• Mostly in shaded, rocky or humanly disturbed habitats such as gardens .
• Can be sparsely distributed on acidic soils where shells are thin and fragile
• Most abundant and well developed on coastal dunes
• Generally prefers sheltered dry places

Key Identification Features:

• A large glossy, globular shell
• Ground colour varies greatly, from yellow through brown to red or pink with up to five dark spiral bands or none
• Aperture with a thickened brown lip, but white lipped variants occur in one or two sand dune sites in the west of Ireland (these being internally distinct from the true white-lipped snail Cepaea hortensis)
• Umbilicus completely closed

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

Distribution Map from NBN: Cepaea nemoralis at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Cepaea nemoralis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Cepaea nemoralis | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Helicidae, Cepaea

Thumbnails for genus Cepaea