Smooth Glass Snail - Aegopinella nitidula

Description

A small (up to 10 mm) land snail sometimes known as the Clear Glass Snail or Waxy Glass Snail. It has an orange-brown, glassy looking shell sometimes with dark mottling and veining showing. The body is blue-grey. Aegopinella nitidula is the largest of the two British species of this genus, A. pura is smaller and often pale in colour but it can be a rich chocolate colour. An eccentric body whorl identifies these as Aegopinella.

Similar Species

Oxychilus navarricus - see ID aids.

Identification difficulty
Identification aids

Aegopinella nitidula (left) has striations visible on the shell. Oxychilus navarricus (right) has a much smoother shell.

The black band above the shell mouth is also much more pronounced on Oxychilus navarricus.

snails

Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed.

Habitat

Fields, gardens and hedgerows

When to see it

All year round

Life History

Eats plant matter.

UK Status

Common throughout Britain

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
Smooth Glass Snail
Species group:
Slugs & Snails
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Pulmonata
Family:
Oxychilidae
Records on NatureSpot:
221
First record:
14/09/1985 (Rundle, Adrian)
Last record:
26/02/2024 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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