Colours
Distinguishing features
The adult bears a hard, thin calcareous shell 25–40 mm in diameter and 25–35 mm high, with four or five whorls.
It has two pairs of tentacles, a higher longer pair and a shorter lower pair. The upper two tentacles have eye-like light sensors, and the lower two tentacles are smaller, tactile and olfactory sensory structures. The tentacles can be retracted into the head.
The shell is somewhat variable in color and shade but is generally dark brown or chestnut with yellow stripes, flecks, or streaks. The body is soft and slimy, brownish-grey, and is retracted entirely into the shell when the animal is inactive or threatened. (Wikipedia).
Size
- Up to 3.5 cm (Snail foot length)
Synonyms
Interesting facts
- It has a top speed of 1.3 cm per second. (Wikipedia)
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It is native to the Mediterranean area and western Europe, but whether deliberately or accidentally, humans have spread it to temperate and subtropical areas worldwide. (Wikipedia)
