Cernuella virgata

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Cernuella virgata
Cernuella virgata 171109506.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Geomitridae
Genus: Cernuella
Subgenus: Cernuella subg. Cernuella
Species:
C. virgata
Binomial name
Cernuella virgata
(Da Costa, 1778) [1]
Synonyms

See list

Cernuella virgata, also known as Helicella virgata, common name, the "vineyard snail", is a species of small, air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Geomitridae. [2]

Contents

This species of snail makes and uses love darts.

Shell description

The shell is from 6 to 19 mm in height and 8 to 25 mm in width.

The coloration of the shell is quite variable, but there is often a creamy-white background, with a variable number of pale to darker brown markings. Some shells are banded at the periphery and on the underside.

Technical description

For terms see gastropod shell

The 15 x 12–23 mm. shell has 4.5–5.5 convex whorls. The last whorl is initially angulated or rounded. The aperture is rounded with a whitish or reddish lip inside and margin is not reflected, The umbilicus is always open, 1/10-1/6 of shell diameter and sometimes slightly excentric. The colour of the periostracum is whitish or yellowish, sometimes with red hue and usually with two brown colour bands on the upper side and 3–4 narrower bands on the lower side, initially finely ribbed, weakly striated at lower whorls. [3]

Distribution

Distribution Cernuella-virgata-map-eur-nm-moll.jpg
Distribution
Cernuella virgata estivating on plant stems near the temple of Segesta, Italy Animals-Sicily-bjs-3.jpg
Cernuella virgata estivating on plant stems near the temple of Segesta, Italy

This snail is endemic to Mediterranean and Western Europe, including the British Isles. [4] This species has been recovered from the Roman occupation of Volubilis, an archaeological site in present-day Morocco. [5]

Cernuella virgata is an invasive species and an agricultural pest in parts of Australia, where it arrived around 1920. In Australia it is known as the "common white snail". [6] [7]

Another land snail which is present as an invasive in Australia, and which is sometimes confused with C. virgata is the species Theba pisana . It is somewhat similar in appearance, and lives under similar circumstances. Theba pisana is however a larger species with a more inflated shell, lower spire and a nearly covered umbilicus.

Comparison between shells of C. virgata and T. pisana:

Behavior and human relevance

This species aestivates after climbing to the top of vegetation (or fences). This habit is problematic for farmers engaged in crop harvesting, because numerous snails are collected along with the crop.

Over a hundred Cernuella virgata on a small section of fence in Provence, France Glanum-snail-climb-fence-5763.jpg
Over a hundred Cernuella virgata on a small section of fence in Provence, France

Life cycle

The size of the egg is 1.5 mm. [8]

Parasites

This species is an intermediate host for the terrestrial trematode parasite Brachylaima cribbi . [9]

Gastronomy

Cernuella virgata, with T. pisana , is consumed in Spain as a "tapa" in the bars, especially in Andalusia, where snails are known as "Chichos" snails. [10]

Synonyms

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Brachylaima</i> Genus of flukes

Brachylaima is a genus of trematodes that can infect the gastrointestinal tract of human beings.

<i>Candidula</i> Genus of gastropods

Candidula is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Geomitridae, . the hairy snails and their allies.

<i>Helicella</i> Genus of gastropods

Helicella is a genus of small to medium-sized, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Helicellinae of the family Geomitridae, the hairy snails and their allies.

<i>Theba</i> Genus of gastropods

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<i>Cernuella</i> Genus of gastropods

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<i>Theba pisana</i> Species of gastropod

Theba pisana, common names the white garden snail, sand hill snail, white Italian snail, Mediterranean coastal snail, and simply just the Mediterranean snail, is an edible species of medium-sized, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the typical snails.

<i>Phasianella</i> Genus of gastropods

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<i>Lacuna</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

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<i>Alvania cancellata</i> Species of mollusc

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<i>Conus ventricosus</i> Species of sea snail

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References

  1. ↑ Da Costa, E. M. 1778. Historia naturalis testaceorum Britanniæ, or, the British conchology; containing the descriptions and other particulars of natural history of the shells of Great Britain and Ireland: illustrated with figures. – Historia naturalis testaceorum Britanniæ, ou, la conchologie Britannique; contenant les descriptions & autres particularités d'histoire naturelle des coquilles de la Grande Bretagne & de l'Irlande: avec figures en taille douce. En anglois & françois. – pp. i–xii [= 1–12], 1–254, i–vii [= 1–7], [1], Pl. I-XVII [= 1–17]. London. (Millan, White, Emsley & Robson). (in English and in French).
  2. ↑ MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Cernuella virgata (Da Costa, 1778). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=426375 on 5 August 2020
  3. ↑ "AnimalBase :: Cernuella virgata species homepage". www.animalbase.uni-goettingen.de. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Kerney M.P. & Cameron R. A. D., 1979. A field guide to the land snails of Britain and northwestern Europe. Collins, London, ISBN   0-00-219676-X.
  5. ↑ C. Michael Hogan (2007) Volubilis, The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham
  6. ↑ Barker G. M. 2004. Natural Enemies of Terrestrial Molluscs, CABI Publishing, 644 pp., ISBN   0-85199-319-2
  7. ↑ Common white snail or Mediterranean white snail, Quarantine Tasmania fact sheet. Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries and Water.
  8. ↑ Heller J.: Life History Strategies. in Barker G. M. (ed.): The biology of terrestrial molluscs . CABI Publishing, Oxon, UK, 2001, ISBN   0-85199-318-4. 1–146, cited page: 428.
  9. ↑ Butcher A. R. & Grove D. I.: Seasonal variation in rates of sporocyst and metacercarial infection by Brachylaima cribbi in helicid and hygromiid land snails on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. – Australian Journal of Zoology, 2006, 53(6): 375–382.
  10. ↑ "Helix de Córdoba" . Retrieved 15 October 2022.[ permanent dead link ]

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