Helix pomatia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Helix pomatia |
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NE
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Pulmonata
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| Helix pomatia |
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Helix pomatia is the edible snail, also known as the 'Burgundy' or 'Roman' snail. It is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial gastropod in the family Helicidae. It is cooked and eaten as an escargot.
Description
The shell is creamy white to light brownish, often with indistinct brown colour bands. The shell has five to six whorls. The aperture is large. The apertural margin is white and slightly reflected in adult snails. The umbilicus is narrow and partly covered by the reflected columellar margin.
The width of the shell is 30–50 mm. The height of the shell is 30–45 mm.
Ecology
Habitat
In southeastern Europe, H. pomatia lives in forests, open habitats, gardens, vineyards, especially along rivers, confined to calcareous substrate. In central Europe, it occurs in open forests and shrubland on calcareous substrate. It prefers high humidity and lower temperatures, and needs loose soil for burrowing to hibernate and lay its eggs. It lives up to 2100 m above sea level in the Alps, but usually below 2000 m. In the south of England, it is restricted to undisturbed grassy or bushy wastelands, usually not in gardens; it has a low reproduction rate and low powers of dispersal.
Life cycle
Average distance of migration reaches 3.5–6.0 m.
This snail is hermaphroditic. Reproduction in central Europe begins at the end of May.
- Reproduction
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Reproductive system of Helix pomatia.
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A pair of H. pomatia in courtship, shortly before mating.
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Drawing of H. pomatia laying eggs.
Eggs are laid in June and July, in clutches of 40–65 eggs. The size of the egg is 5.5–6.5 mm or 8.6 × 7.2 mm. Juveniles hatch after three to four weeks, and may consume their siblings under unfavourable climate conditions. Maturity is reached after two to five years. The life span is up to 20 years. Ten-year-old individuals are probably not uncommon in natural populations. The maximum lifespan is 35 years.
During estivation or hibernation, this species creates a calcareous epiphragm to seal the opening of the shell.
- Hibernation
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Drawing of H. pomatia during hibernation.
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Photo of the shell with an epiphragm.
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Epiphragm of H. pomatia.
Images for kids
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Distribution map of H. pomatia showing the European countries where the species is present
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In Odenwald, Germany
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Helix pomatia, light micrograph of an eye; 1 anterior chamber, 2 lens, 3 retina, 4 optic nerv
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Cooked snails are called escargots.
See also
In Spanish: Caracol romano para niños
