Garlic Snail - Oxychilus alliarius

Description

6-8mm - the Garlic Snail is pale, yellow-brown and glossy. It has a closely-coiled translucent shell with a very low spire and a medium umbilicus. The snail itself is characteristically dark blue-grey. When disturbed, this snail produces a secretion that smells strongly of garlic.

Similar Species

Whilst is not possible to be certain of this species from an image alone, the garlic smell from the the specimen is a  helpful feature. However Oxychilis navarricus also can produce a garlic smell, though not usually as strong. O. navarricus is larger (8-10mm) and has a black mantle that is usually obvious as a dark band just within the shell.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • 6-8mm
  • glossy shell
  • releases garlic smell when irritated
  • dark blue-grey body
Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. In the comments box, describe the size and identifying characters.

Habitat

In moist situations in plant litter, moss, etc. Sometimes in gardens.

Life History

Plant and detritus feeder on algae and plant litter.

UK Status

Widespread and common throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Garlic Snail
Species group:
Slugs & Snails
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Pulmonata
Family:
Oxychilidae
Records on NatureSpot:
246
First record:
14/09/1985 (Rundle, Adrian)
Last record:
04/05/2024 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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