Size: 9-25mm width; 5-12 tall. Shape: Almost flat on top (spire very slightly elevated) but convex below. Umbilicalis very broad and open. Mouth does not possess a lip or calluses but does have a weak internal rib just behind the mouth edge. Colour: Glossy, chalky whitish to grey fawn in colour. Often banded (or blotched) with brown. Dart-sac: The dart-sac is double and secrets a pair of darts with 16 mucus glands arranged in two groups.
- Relatively large (more than 7mm wide)
- Very large umbilicalis
- No lip / calluses on mouth (though may possess weak internal rib)
- Usually has spiral bands
- Cernuella virgata - is taller and has a smaller umbilicalis
- Cepaea nemoralis / hortensis - lack the umbilicalis
Generally inhabits dry, sunny calcareous places most typically on short-turfed chalk and limestone grassland. It is also found in diused quarries, seacliffs and sandhills. In hot dry weather may attach itself for long periods to the stalks of plants. In Ireland the distribution generally extends to moister habitats.
A widespread species which remains fairly comon by the sea in west and north Britain and also more generally in Ireland. However, there is growing evidence that the populations in southern and eastern England have declined sharply over the last century. The reasons for this are unclear but may be related to change in use of chalk and limestone grassland.
Western European species occurring from the Mediterranean north to British Isles and Denmark.
Cameron R. (2008) Land Snails in the British Isles.
Kerney M. (1999) Atlas of the Land and Freshwater Molluscs of Britain and Ireland
Ellis R.A. (1926) British Snails. A Guide to the Non-marine Gastropoda of Great Britain and Ireland Pliocene to Recent. Oxford Clarendon Press.