Land snails of Europe

Burgundy snail (Helix Pomatia) This is the largest land snail in Europe, measuring up to 3 inches in length. They are edible. Their shells are usually brown, the animal is a gray or cream color. The shells sometimes displays bands. They are very common on roads, sidewalks, and plants, after rain, there are so many, you have to watch your step, to not step one of those. These snails are also very common in flower gardens, and on trees in forests.

Grove snail (Cepaea nemoralis) Also known as the Brown-lipped snail, this one of the most common snails in Europe, measuring up to 1.3 inches in length. There are many color variations of the shell, like yellow, red, black, green, orange etc. The animal is usually yellow-creamish color. It's very fun to collect shells of these snails, and see how many color forms you can find! Just like Burgundy snails, they are really common in flower gardens, and on trees in forests.

Copse snail (Arianta arbustorum) This is another common species of land snails. Its not as common as the Burgundy, or Grove snail. It is most abundant in Switzerland. It has a brown shell with with a variety of white spots, while the animal is black, or dark blue. It has been introduced in Canada, but not in the U.S, as it could pose a potential threat to humans, and vegetation. It is most common around fallen logs, and tall, grassy areas.

Garden snail (Helix aspersa) If you have a flower garden, you will probably recognize this snail, as it is very common in those areas. It is related to the Burgundy snail, and can get pretty big but not as big as its bigger cousin. Its shell is a light brown color with many dark colored patterns, and bands.The snail, just like the Burgundy snail, is grey or cream colored. It can be a big pest in flower gardens also, so be carefull.

Turkish snail (Helix lucorum) It is related to the Burgundy, and Garden snail. The shell reaches 1.5 inches. The snail just like its cousins, is cream or gray, while the shell is white with multiple heavy dark bands. It is most common in southern Europe, and the Mediterranean area. It is also common in mountain meadows, and in edges of deciduous forests.

Decollate snail (Rumina decollata) This is a species that can be found in the Mediterranean region, and other parts of Europe. It has been introduced to many other places in the world, like the western, south, and south-east United States. It feeds on other snails and slugs, so if your keeping these as pets, make sure to keep it away from other pet snails of yours. They're shell can reach up to 1.7 inches in height, which is usually orange, brown, or yellow. The animal is gray, cream, black, or dark blue.

White-lipped snail (Cepeae hortensis) Another common species of snails. The White-lipped snail is really closely related to the Grove snail. The only difference between the two species is the color of the lip of the shell, which is white on the White-lipped snail, and brown on the Grove snail. The color of the snail is usually cream/whitish or tan, while the color of the shell is white, yellow, or orange with either zero, one, or multiple black bands. They make really cool pets as these snails are a very active species, which makes them fun to observe.