Vineyard Snail
Caucasotachea vindobonensis
The distinct dark bands on their shells are not just for camouflage; they help the snail regulate its body temperature in sunny environments.
- Scientific name
- Caucasotachea vindobonensis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Mollusca › Gastropoda › Stylommatophora › Helicidae › Caucasotachea
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Sunny shrublands, forest edges, vineyards, and gardens with calcium-rich soil.
- Diet
- Herbivorous and detritivorous, feeding on green plants, wilted leaves, and algae.
- Range
- Central Europe, Balkans, Pannonian Basin, Eastern Europe
- Size
- Shell diameter of 20-25mm
- Lifespan
- 2-5 years
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Habitat destruction, intensive agriculture, and excessive pesticide use.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Observe without touching to avoid damaging the delicate shell or stressing the animal. If handled, wash hands afterward to remove mucus and potential bacteria.
Caucasotachea vindobonensis is a species of medium-sized air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod in the family Helicidae.
Photo: Gergely Nigg, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/02eb7957-ce7e-4498-b73d-35baac9d75ff.md