Description: A broad, very depressed shell with very open coil producing a convex, low spire and very wide umbilicus. Whorls slightly convex with shallow sutures. Aperture elliptical without an internal rib. Surface white or pale yellow-brown with fine irregular growth ridges and dark brown or yellow-brown spiral bands. Widespread. 12-20 mm.

World Distribution: Found from the west Mediterranean northwards to the British Isles and Denmark. Distribution type: Suboceanic Southern-temperate (82).

Irish Distribution: Probably the only helicellid native in Ireland and abundant around the coast and in most of the central plain. There is a gap in its coastal range between north Antrim and the coast of Louth in the north-east. Reasons for this are unknown but likely related to scarcity of suitable habitat.

Ecology:

• Like the other xerophilous helicids found in all kinds of dry, open habitats such as calcareous grassland and dunes
• It can disappear rapidly from a site with abandonment and the cessation of grazing
• Declining in southern Britain (Kerney, 1999) but to date there is no evidence of decline in Ireland

Key Identification Features:

• A broad very depressed opaque white shell
• Spire low and with a very wide umbilicus
• Whorls sightly convex and with shallow sutures
• Aperture elliptical without an internal rib
• Colour white or pale yellow-brown with dark brown or yellowish spiral bands
• Marked by irregular growth lines

Red list status:

• Vulnerable (VU).

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

iNaturalist: Helicella itala at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Helicella itala | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Geomitridae, Helicella

Thumbnails for genus Helicella