Identifying common British snails: Garden Snail - Cornu aspersum

Cornu aspersum Garden Snail

 

No umbilicus, flecked pattern on shell

Side view of garden snail

Cornu aspersum (O.F. Müller 1774)
(Previously known as Helix aspersa. See "An annoted list of the non-marine mollusca of Britain and Ireland.")

Description: 25 - 35 x 25 - 40 mm. Shell globular, rather depressed and thick, with a roughly shagreened or wrinkle-like sculptured surface, and with 4½ - 5 rapidly expanding and slightly convex whorls.The umbilicus is completely sealed by the lip. Mouth large, with a thickened white lip. Shell usually pale brown, occasionally yellow, with 0 - 5 dark spiral bands, variable and often flecked with white or yellow-brown.
Habitat: Very varied. Often associated with man in gardens and parks, especially near the edge of its range, but also in dunes, woods, rocks and hedgerows.