Brown-lipped Snail - Cepaea nemoralis

Description

Also known as the Banded Snail, this is the most colourful and variable snail in the UK. The shell may vary in colour, and in the presence of banded patterning. They can be yellow, pink or brown and can have up to five horizontal bands across their shells or none at all. It nearly always has the dark rim at the lip of the shell opening. The shell can reach a height of about 20 mm and a width of 25 mm. The surface of the shell is semi-glossy, and it has from 4.5 to 5.5 whorls.

Identification difficulty
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

It occupies a range of habitats including woodland, grassland, hedgerows and garden shrubs.

Life History

Plant feeder on a wide range of fresh vegetation.

UK Status

Common and widespread over much of Britain except in the far north of Scotland.

VC55 Status

Very 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
Brown-lipped Snail
Species group:
Slugs & Snails
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Pulmonata
Family:
Helicidae
Records on NatureSpot:
486
First record:
27/07/1987 (Rundle, Adrian)
Last record:
03/03/2024 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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