Key to the

SNAILS of the Bristol Region Andrew Daw Tessa Ivison

This publication has been supported by the Friends of Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Archives

www.brerc.org.uk SNAILS of the Bristol Region

External Characteristics

Shapes of Shell

Pointed Globular Flat

Shell Features

Shell Features Counting Whorls Draw a line across the shell lined up with the centre.

The number of complete whorls (first shown in red) will match the number of times the line crosses the spiral – here 3.

Add on the amount for any incomplete whorls to give the final count – this gives a total of 3.25 whorls for this example.

Whorls A = Slowly expanding (or tightly packed) whorls.

B = Rapidly expanding whorls.

Teeth Some of snails have teeth-like features in the mouth of the shell.

Illustrations Each set of illustrations for a snail will include a life-size representation of the snail in the bottom left hand corner.

The other parts of the illustration will be shown at a scale indicated by a scale bar in cm or mm and a magnification (e.g. 3x).

Key

1 Height of shell greater than width. ………... 2

Height of shell not greater than width. ………... 18

2 Mouth of shell to left (sinistral). ………... 3

Mouth of shell to right (dextral). ………... 5

TALL, THIN, LEFT SIDED SHELLS Tree Snail 3 Teeth absent. ………... Balea perversa

Mouth square. Rocky outcrops & stone walls.

Teeth present. ………... 4

Plaited Door Snail Rolph’s Door Snail Two-toothed Door Snail Cochlodina laminata Macrogastra rolphii Clausilia bidentata 4

Shell smooth, glossy & Distinct vertical ribbing, widest Distinct growth lines, widest translucent with only faint point of shell greater than 3mm. point of shell less than 3mm. growth lines. Woodland leaf litter & rocky Leaf litter in woodland & Common; climbs trees & walls outcrops. hedges. when wet.

TALL, THIN, RIGHT SIDED SHELLS

5 Height greater than 10 mm. ………... 6

Height between 4 -10 mm. ………... 9

Height up to 4 mm. ………... 13

TALL, THIN, RIGHT SIDED SHELLS GREATER THAN 10mm

Mouth greater than half the height of the ………... 8 6 whole shell. Very rapidly expanding whorls.

Mouth less than half the height of the ………... 7 whole shell.

Round-Mouthed Snail Pointed Snail Mountain Bulin Pomatias elegans Cochlicella acuta Ena montana 7

Shell wide and thick with deep Very tall & thin, though height Found in ancient woodland and horizontal striations. variable (10-30 mm). hedgerows. Live specimens have Shell white or ginger with or Rare. operculum (‘trap door’). without dark bands or blotches. Common in moist calcareous Coastal dunes & grassland. areas. See 12 (Ena obscura )

Shell greater than 12mm in height. ………... Amber Snail 8 Adult snail has a pale body colour. Succinea putris

Common in fens, marshes and reedbeds Shell no more than 12mm in height. ………... Pfeiffer’s Amber Snail Adult has a dark body colour. Oxyloma pfeifferi

Similar habitats to S. putris

TALL, THIN, RIGHT SIDED SHELLS 4-10 mm TALL

9 Teeth present...... 10

Teeth absent...... 11

Large Chrysalis Snail Three-toothed Snail Abida secale Azeca goodalli 10

Shell thick, rough & strongly striated. Shell thin & glossy, brown or white. Rocky outcrops & open habitats in calcareous Shell pattern variable. areas. Leaf litter in woodlands.

Mouth greater than half the height of the ………... 8 11 whole shell. Very rapidly expanding whorls.

Mouth less than half the height of the ………... 12 whole shell.

Blind Snail Slippery Snail Lesser Bulin Ceciloides acicula Cochlicopa lubrica Ena obscura 12 or Least Slippery Snail Cochlicopa lubricella Illustrated: Cochlicopa lubrica

Shell very narrow Shell smooth and very glossy Shell dull, fine growth lines and (approximately 1mm), mouth Dissection of shell needed – thick white . large. see Kerney & Cameron. Woodland & scrub. Lives underground in Common in a variety of calcareous habitats, may be habitats. found near surface in mole hills. See 7 (Ena montana )

TALL, THIN RIGHT SIDED SHELLS LESS THAN 4 mm TALL

13 Mouth with one or no teeth...... 14

Mouth with more than one tooth...... 17

Mouth with distinctly thickened lip...... 15 14

Mouth without thickened lip...... 16

Chrysalis Snail Moss Snail Lauria cylindracea Pupilla muscorum 15

Single tooth contiguous with lip. Single or no tooth, lip not connected. Lip of the shell is pale in fresh specimens. Pale stripe behind mouth of shell. Common, often found under Ivy on stone walls. Open grassland, rocky outcrops, walls & sand dunes.

Point Snail Chrysalis Snails Acicula fusca Columella sp. 16

Shell with distinct vertical ribbing. Shell with only very faint striations. moist leaf litter or moss in ancient woodland. Common in damp and calcareous areas.

TALL, THIN RIGHT SIDED SHELLS LESS THAN 4 mm TALL Herald Snails English Chrysalis Snail Common Whorl Snail Carychium tridentatum & Leiostyla anglica Vertigo pygmaea 17 C. minimum Illustrated: Carychium tridentatum

Examination of internal shell Mouth ‘pinched’. Full mouth! characteristics needed. See Damp places in woods & Dry calcareous grassland & Kerney & Cameron. marshes. sand dunes. Variety of habitats. C. minimum prefers wetter places.

SHELL GLOBULAR OR FLAT IN SHAPE

18 Width of shell greater than 25mm...... 19

Width of shell 7 – 25mm...... 20

Width of shell 3 - 7mm...... 34

Width of shell less than 3mm...... 37

WIDTH OF SHELL GREATER THAN 25 mm Roman Snail 19 Shell creamy yellow...... Helix pomatia

Loose calcareous soil, generally not in gardens. Shell blotched, striped Garden Snail or flecked dark brown...... Helix aspersa

Umbilicus absent. Found in gardens, generally not in woodland or scrub.

WIDTH OF SHELL 7-25 mm

20 Shell sharply keeled...... 21

Shell with blunt or no keel...... 22

WIDTH OF SHELL 7-25 mm Lapidary Snail Girdled Snail lapicida Hygromia cinctella 21

Large . Small umbilicus. Rocky ground & stone walls in calcareous areas. Woods, hedgerows, orchards & gardens.

• note size difference and relative umbilicus size • see also 24 (Candidula ) and 30 (Trichia striolata )

Shell with dark spiral bands, flecking or ...... 23 22 blotching.

Shell white, yellow or brown with no ...... 28 ( ) darker bands or blotching.

23 Shell with flecking or blotching with or ...... 24 without dark spiral band.

Shell with dark spiral bands but no ...... 25 flecking or blotching.

WIDTH OF SHELL 7-25 mm Copse Snail Wrinkled Snail & Eccentric Rounded Snail Arianta arbustorum Snail 24 Candidula intersecta & Candidula gigaxii Illustration: Candidula intersecta

Shell globular and may have The amount of stripes on the Shell flattened, very large blotches. shell can be variable, or absent. umbilicus. May be confused with 19 Height of shell less than ¾ of Moist areas. (Garden Snail), note presence width. of umbilicus here. Shell spire flattened with Moist habitats. Candidula gigaxii. Calcareous areas. Consider young specimens of 26 (C. virgata ).

25 Base colour of shell whitish...... 26

Base colour of shell yellow, brown or ...... 27 pinkish brown.

Banded Snail Heath Snail Cernuella virgata Helicella itala 26

Shell globular, spire raised (height at least ¾ of Flattened on top, large umbilicus. width), and umbilicus small. Dry, exposed calcareous areas. The amount of stripes on the shell can be variable, or absent. Dry, exposed calcareous areas.

WIDTH OF SHELL 7-25 mm White-lipped Snail Shell with white lip...... Cepaea hortensis 27

Brown-lipped Snail Shell with brown lip...... Cepaea nemoralis

*young and growing snails may lack lip making identification difficult.

• The number and thickness of stripes are very variable with both C. hortensis and C. nemoralis . • The colouration of the shells can be variable too, from yellow, through brown to pink.

GLOBULAR SHELLS 7-25 mm WIDE WITH NO DARKER BANDS OR DARK BLOTCHING

Shell hairy...... 29 Warning: 28 • hairs may wear off

adults • juveniles of several species are hairy

Shell not hairy...... 30

GLOBULAR SHELLS 7-25 mm WIDE WITH NO DARKER BANDS OR DARK BLOTCHING

Hairy Snail Silky Snail Trichia hispida granulata 29

Obvious umbilicus. Very small umbilicus. Common in a variety of habitats. Damp, shady places. See also 30 (Trichia striolata ).

Warning: hairs may wear off, check in the umbilicus. Juveniles of many species are hairy. Strawberry Snail Shell has dull keel with pale band just ...... Trichia striolata 30 inside lip of shell. Adult shell usually greater than 10mm wide.

Gardens, hedges, woodlands. * hairy when young

Shell not like this...... 31

Kentish Snail Shell colour white to transparent, pinkish ...... cantiana 31 tinge near mouth.

Not found in woodland

Shell colour not like this. ……… 32 GLOBULAR SHELLS 7-25 mm WIDE WITH NO DARKER BANDS OR DARK BLOTCHING

Shell flattened, glossy or waxy, ...... Aegopinella & Oxychilus 32 obviously wider than tall. See Table 1.

Shell not this shape...... 33

Table 1 Oxychilus and Aegopinella Characteristics Adult Shell Width Spire Shell colour & No. of Whorls Draparnaud’s Snail 11-16 mm very flattened yellow-brown, slightly Oxychilus draparnaudi 5.5-6 whorls opaque, waxy Cellar Snail 9-12 mm very flattened very pale, transparent, Oxychilus cellarius 5.5-6 whorls glossy Glossy Glass Snail 8-10 mm slightly raised light brown, yellowish Oxychilus helveticus 5 whorls tinge, very glossy Garlic Snail 6-8 mm slightly raised yellowish brown to Oxychilus allarius 4-4.5 whorls greenish, almost transparent. Smooth Glass Snail 8-10 mm slightly raised yellow-brown, waxy Aegopinella nitidula 4.5 whorls Clear Glass Snail 3.5-4 mm slightly raised Aegopinella pura 3.5 whorls Shiny Glass Snail 5-6 mm raised, more than pale brown, transparent, nitidus 4.5 whorls Aegopinella. Almost shiny triangular cross-section Hollowed Glass Snail 6-7 mm raised, more than pale brown, translucent, Zonitoides excavatus 4.5 whorls Aegopinella. Almost glossy triangular cross-section. Rayed Glass Snail 3.5-4 mm slightly raised, rise more pale brown, translucent Nesovitrea hammonis 3.5 whorls rounded than with distinct striations Aegopinella

Dusky Snail 33 Shell less than 10mm...... Perforatella subrufescens

Damp wooded areas.

Shell more than 15 mm...... 27 Cepaea sp. GLOBULAR SHELLS 3 – 7 mm WIDE Shell with rapidly expanding body whorl. Vitrina pellucida Vitrina pellucida Live mostly 34 seen in winter, pale.

Or

Phenacolimax major Live animal mostly seen in summer, mantle dark.

Live animal Variety of moist habitats.

Shell more tightly coiled...... 35

Tawny Glass Snail 35 Shell almost triangular...... Euconulus fulvus

Various moist habitats.

Shell flattened...... 36

36 Shell with dark bands...... 24 Aegopinella & Oxychilus Shell monotone...... See Table 1.

GLOBULAR SHELLS LESS THAN 3 mm WIDE

37 Shell with distinctly thickened lip...... 38

Shell with no lip...... 41

38 Shell with distinct ribbing...... 39

Shell with ribbing absent or indistinct...... 40 GLOBULAR SHELLS LESS THAN 3 mm WIDE Ribbed Grass Snail Prickly Snail costata Acanthinula aculeata 39

Shell flattened. Shell more globular. Exposed calcareous places. More sheltered habitats.

Milky Crystal Snail Eccentric Grass Snail Smooth Grass Snail Vitrea contractor Vallonia excentrica 40

Shell white. Eccentric umbilicus. Umbilicus not obviously Dry calcareous areas. No protruding lip to mouth. eccentric. Open calcareous grassland. Protruding lip to mouth. Dry calcareous grassland.

Dwarf Snail Rock Snail Punctum pygmaeum Pyramidula rupestris 41

Shell brown, minute (less than 2mm wide). Shell brown (about 3mm wide) and heavily Moist places, woodland leaf litter & marshes. striated. Exposed rocky outcrops & walls.

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Please return to BRERC, St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas Street, Bristol BS1 1UE Your name: Your contact address*: Your e -mail addre ss: We need your contact details so we can verify the record with you if necessary. All personal information is treated as Your telephone number: confidential, and is held in compliance

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PLEASE CONTINUE OVERLEAF. Please note, records provided to BRERC are deemed to be made available for BRERC to use in accordance with its role as a Local Records Centre. As such, records may be widely distributed by BRERC to third parties, in a variety of formats and media, such as through the National Biodiversity Network Gateway and other websites. Personal information is not supplied by BRERC to data enquirers but names and address may be used by BRERC when mailing newsletters, recording forms, invitations to meetings and other information or publicity material. More details of BRERC policies can be found on our website at: http://www.brerc.org.uk. SINGLE SITE, MULTIPLE RECORDS BRERC – WILDLIFE RECORDING FORM

Please return to BRERC, St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas Street, Bristol BS1 1UE Your name: Your contact address: Your e -mail address: We need your contact details so we can verify the record with you if necessary. All personal information is treated as Your telephone number: confidential, and is held in compliance with the Data Protection Act . Locality (Where exactly did you see it?) Please give a full description of the location including road, house, park, river/stream names etc. Even a sketch map overleaf will help us pin point the location and assign a grid reference. If you have visited morethan one location, please use a separate form for each location. Species name Date Grid reference Number recorded Any other information? (What did you see?) (DD/MM/YYYY) (If possible) (How many did you see?) e.g. male, female, adult, nesting. juvenile, larva, pupa, (When did you see it?) egg, tadpole, dead, killed on road, in flower, in fruit/seed, netted, in or under water, field record.

PLEASE CONTINUE OVERLEAF

Records provided to BRERC are deemed to be made available for BRERC to use in accordance with its role as a Local Records Centre. As such, records may be widely distributed by BRERC to third parties, in a variety of formats and media, such as through the National Biodiversity Network Gateway and other websites. Personal information is not supplied by BRERC to data enquirers but names and address may be used by BRERC when mailing newsletters, recording forms, invitations to meetings and other information or publicity material. More details of BRERC policies can be found on our website at: http://www.brerc.org.uk.