White-lipped Snail
Cepaea hortensis
Adult white-lipped snails are common in western and northern Europe in hedgerows, gardens, grasslands, dunes, and light woodland edges where humidity and shelter are available. They feed by grazing on algae, fungi, lichens, dead leaves, and living plant tissue with a rough radula. When threatened or during dry conditions, they withdraw into the shell and may seal the opening with dried mucus to conserve moisture. The pale white lip around the shell opening is a key field mark that helps distinguish it from the closely related brown-lipped snail.
- Type
- Shell
- Conservation status
- LC