Helix lucorum

Striped snail

The striped snail (Helix lucorum ) is a relative of the native snail ( Helix pomatia). Like these it belongs to the terrestrial snails ( gastropod ), and among these to the family of helicid ( Helicidae ). As her French name, Escargot Turc says she is originally from the Black Sea region and from Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. In contrast to the Snail it is not cultivated, but collected, traded with about 6,000 tons of snails you will nevertheless annually a significant place among the commercially exploited a worm.

Features

Described by the snail ( Helix pomatia) to Helix lucorum differs firstly by their size: With a maximum shell diameter of up to 60 mm Helix lucorum is significantly larger than the native snails. Furthermore, the package is the Striped Snail, as the name implies, characteristic striped along with thick reddish-brown bands. This can be interrupted when the animal has to take longer rest periods due to drought. In weaker colored copies, this growth failure may predominate, so that the case looks almost like a chessboard patterned.

Periods of rest

In contrast to their native relatives the Striped snail not overwinter. Instead, she spends during the dry summer months, longer periods in the soil buried in the dry state of torpor. In the wild, Helix lucorum is active only at night and after heavy rains.

Habitat

The striped snail is a resident lights forests, thickets and agricultural areas.

Distribution area

From the Black Sea area, the species occurs through the western and central Turkey via the Balkans (of southern Romania on Bulgaria and northern Greece to Albania ) in the west to eastern Italy before. Introduced is the striped snail found in southern France; while it does not occur in Germany, she is in Austria, near Vienna, as well as Cornu aspersum south of the city to meet.

Snails trade

→ Main article: Snail (food)

In contrast to native breeding snails, in Germany especially Helix pomatia, otherwise also Cornu aspersum, Helix lucorum is only acted as a collecting screw. Especially the large growing subspecies Helix lucorum taurica and large growing Anatolian forms are sold. While the taste was mainly the local Helix pomatia is preferred, Helix lucorum often also the colorful housing sold along with the meat of Helix pomatia.