Vineyard Snail

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Vineyard Snail
Vineyard Snail
Vineyard Snail

Vineyard Snail

Cernuella virgata


This introduced snail species can produce 60 eggs per clutch and as many as 40 clutches per year. 


Details Description
Type
Invertebrate
Group
Mollusc
Other Common Names
White snail, Striped snail, Zoned snail, Maritime garden snail
Identifying Characteristics

The shell can grow up to 19 mm high and 25 mm wide, with 5-7 whorls. Shell color not uniform, may have dark colored stripes, spots or bands.

Distinctive Markings

Variable pale to dark brown markings on a cream-white background.

Diet

Herbivore. Snails often target young seedlings and also eat roots and germinating seeds.

Habitat

Occurs in vineyards, crops and gardens. Has invaded native grasslands in Victoria.

Native Status
Introduced
Taxonomy
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Stylommatophora
Family
Hirundinidae
Genus
Cernuella
Species
virgata
Vineyard Snail
Native to the Mediterranean region and Western Europe. Widely distributed across southern Australia.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Conservation Status
DEPI Advisory List
Not listed
FFG Act
Not listed
EPBC Act
Not listed

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.