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White-lipped Snail

White-lipped Snail ©Nick Upton/2020VISION

White-lipped snail

The White-lipped snail comes in different colour forms, but always has a white band around the opening of its shell. It prefers damp spots in wide range of habitats, from gardens to grasslands, woods to hedges.

Scientific name

Cepaea hortensis

When to see

January to December

Species information

Statistics

Diameter: 1.6-2.2cm
Common.

About

The White-lipped snail is similar in appearance to the Brown-lipped Snail, but is generally smaller and has a white band around the edge of the shell opening, rather than a brown one. The White-lipped Snail lives in a variety of damp habitats, including gardens, hedgerows, woodland, grassland, wasteland, sand dunes and clifftops. It prefers to eat nettles, Ragwort and Hogweed.

How to identify

The White-lipped snail varies in colour, but is typically yellow or pinkish. It has up to five brown bands around the whorl of the shell. It can be identified by the white branding around the lip of its shell, which distinguishes it from the similar Brown-lipped snail.

Distribution

Widespread.

Did you know?

White-lipped snails are hermaphrodites, so have organs of both sexes. However, they need to mate in order for each snail to fertilise their own eggs. They then bury their eggs in soil.