# 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.

- **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.

## About

Caucasotachea vindobonensis is a species of medium-sized air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod in the family Helicidae.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/02eb7957-ce7e-4498-b73d-35baac9d75ff
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/922180
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasotachea_vindobonensis
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/70710647/medium.jpeg (Gergely Nigg, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.