Description: A very tall, conical shell of 8-10 whorls. Whorls are convex with moderate sutures. Surface whitish or yellow-brown, with coarse, irregular growth ridges and marked by dark brown spiral bands and blotches which are often broken up to create radial stripes. On coastal sands or well-drained limestone pastures inland. 10-18 mm. .

World Distribution: Distributed from the British Isles along coasts to the Mediterranean and east to Turkey but is a probable introduction in large parts of its range. Distribution type: Mediterranean-Atlantic (91).

Irish Distribution: This snail may have entered the British Isles in the late prehistoric period (Kerney, 1999) but for present purposes is regarded as a native. Inland it is scattered across the south central plain of Ireland and is common everywhere on the coast.

Ecology:

• Very widespread in the loose sand or sparsely vegetated areas of coastal dunes
• Inland in limestone quarries and dry pastures in the southern half of the island

Key Identification Features:

• Shell a tall, evenly developed cone of 8-10 whorls
• Has moderately convex whorls and moderately deep sutures - compare Cochlicella barbara (which is in Britain) with flatter whorls and shallower sutures
• Surface whitish or yellow-brown, with coarse, irregular growth ridges and marked by dark brown spiral bands and blotches which are often broken up to create radial stripes
• Mouth taller than broad, without an internal rib
• Forms which occur on western islands are squatter and smaller, and approach C. barbara in shape and size

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

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

iNaturalist: Cochlicella acuta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Cochlicella acuta | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Geomitridae, Cochlicella

Thumbnails for genus Cochlicella