Helix pomatia

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Helix pomatia
Conservation status
NE
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Subclass: Orthogastropoda Superorder: Heterobranchia Order: Pulmonata Family: Helicidae Genus: Helix Species: H. pomatia
Binomial name
Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758

Helix pomatia, common names the Burgundy snail or Roman snail or edible snail, is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae.

It is frequently farmed, and is called by the French name escargot when it is used in cooking.

During aestivation this species creates a calcareous epiphragm in order to seal the opening of the shell.

This species of snail creates and uses love darts.

[edit] Distribution

This species is native to the limestone areas of central and south-eastern Europe.

• Not listed in IUCN red list, not evaluated (NE)^[1]
• It is mentioned in annex V of Habitats Directive.

• Austria
• Belgium
• The Czech Republic - least concern species (LC). Its Conservation status in 2004-2006 is favourable (FV) in report for European commission in accordance with Habitats Directive.^[2]
• France - in eastern France
• Italy - in northern Italy
• Germany. Listed as specially protected species in annex 1 in Bundesartenschutzverordnung.
• Hungary
• Netherlands ^[3]

• Russia in the western part
• Slovakia
• Ukraine
• Balkans
• Carpathian Mountains
• The British Isles, southern areas on chalk. It is not native to the British Isles. It was introduced to the British Isles by the Romans during the Roman period (AD 43-410); its common name in the UK is Roman snail. In the UK the Roman snail is a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to disturb or collect Roman snails.

[edit] References