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Helicidae

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Helicidae
Scientific classification
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Helicidae

Subfamilies

Ariantinae
Helicinae

The Helicidae, sometimes known as the typical snails, are a taxonomic family of small to large, air-breathing, land snails. In other words, they are terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks.

Several species in this family are edible, including Helix aspersa the garden snail, and Helix pomatia the "escargot".

Some genera within this family create and use love darts as part of their mating behavior.

helicid snails for sale in Italy
helicid snails for sale in Italy

Distribution

The family is native to Europe.

However some of the species, such as for example Helix aspersa, have been introduced and become established in numerous different places worldwide.

Many accidental introductions happen because the eggs of most Helicidae are laid in the soil, and they may thus easily travel unnoticed along with landscaping plants.

Shell description

The shells of these snails are mostly rather globular in shape. In some genera, such as Cepaea, the shells are brightly colored and patterned.

Subfamilies and genera within the family Helicidae

Arianta arbustorum
Iberus gualterianus alonensis

After Fauna Europaea[1] and Taxonomy Browser[2] the family Helicidae includes the following subfamilies, tribus and genera:

Subfamily Ariantinae Mörch, 1864

Arianta Turton, 1831
Causa
Chilostoma Fitzinger, 1833
Cylindrus Fitzinger, 1833
Drobacia
Faustina
Helicigona A. Férussac, 1821
Isognomostoma Fitzinger, 1833
Vidovicia

Subfamily Helicinae Rafinesque, 1815

  • Tribe Thebini small> Wenz, 1923 (the synonym Euparyphinae Perrot, 1939 has been declared an invalid name)
Theba Risso, 1826 - Theba pisana (O. F. Müller, 1774)
Allognathus
Assyriella
Cantareus Risso, 1826
Cepaea Held, 1838
Codringtonia
Cornu Born, 1778
Eobania P. Hesse, 1913
Helix Linnaeus, 1758
Hemicycla
Iberus
Idiomela T. Cockerell, 1921
Lampadia
Leptaxis
Levantina
Otala Schumacher, 1817
Pseudotachea
Tyrrhenaria
Macularia
Marmorana W. Hartmann, 1844
Tacheocampylaea
Tyrrheniberus

References

  • M.P. Kerney & R.A.D. Cameron, 1979, a field guide to the land snails of Britain and northwestern Europe, Collins, London