Helix lucorum


Helix lucorum is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the typical snails.

Description

Adult snails weight about 20-25 g.
The width of the shell is 35-60. The height of the shell is 25–45 mm.
This species of snail makes and uses love darts.

Distribution

The native distribution is Caucasus, Anatolia and, arguably, Balkans, it also invaded many other regions since ancient times.
Few different lineages of Helix lucorum has a distinct different shell's coloration and in some regions the snails from the different lineages are invaded during the different periods forming the populations that differs from each other.
Eastern native range with main genetic diversity of the species:
Balkans :
Other countries:
The diameter of the egg is 4.4 mm. Juvenile snails that are two to three months old weigh 0.5-0.9 g.

Human use

Helix lucorum is used in cuisine as escargots.