Helix pomatia

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Helix pomatia, common names the Burgundy snail, Roman snail, edible snail or escargot, is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae. It is a European species.

This species is frequently farmed, and is called by the French name escargot when it is used in cooking. Cooked snails are called escargot

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Contents
[hide] *1 Distribution
 * 2 Description
 * 3 Ecology
 * 3.1 Habitat
 * 3.2 Life cycle
 * 4 Conservation
 * 5 In popular culture
 * 6 References
 * 7 Further reading
 * 8 External links
 * }

[edit] Distribution
Distribution map of Helix pomatia showing the European countries where the species is presentDistribution of Helix pomatia include:

south-eastern and central Europe:[3 ] Western Europe: Northern Europe: Eastern Europe: southern Europe:
 * Germany – Listed as a specially protected species in annex 1 of the Bundesartenschutzverordnung.
 * Austria
 * Czech Republic – least concern species (LC). Its conservation status in 2004–2006 is favourable (FV) in the report for the European commission in accordance with the Habitats Directive.[4 ]
 * Poland
 * Slovakia
 * Hungary[3 ]
 * In south-western Bulgaria up to an altitude of more than 1600 m.[3 ]
 * north and central Balkans[3 ]
 * Slovenia
 * Republic Of Macedonia[3 ]
 * Great Britain: in the west and south of England[3 ] in southern areas on chalk soils. Its common name in the UK is "Roman snail" because it was introduced to the island by the Romans during the Roman period (AD 43–410). In England only (not the rest of the UK) the Roman snail is a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to kill, injure, collect or sell these snails.[5 ]
 * central France[3 ]
 * Belgium
 * Netherlands [6 ]
 * Switzerland
 * Denmark – Listed as a protected species.[citation needed]
 * south Sweden[3 ]
 * Norway[3 ]
 * Finland[3 ]
 * In central and southern parts of Sweden, Norway and Finland, there are isolated and relatively small populations. It is not native to these countries, but is likely to have been imported by monks from Southern Europe during medieval times.
 * Latvia
 * Lithuania
 * Estonia[3 ]
 * western Belarus[3 ]
 * western Ukraine (Uzhgorod)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-12">[3 ]
 * Moldavia<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-13">[3 ]
 * Russia: introduced to Moscow,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-14">[3 ] Kursk<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-15">[3 ]
 * Ukraine: introduced to Kiev <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-16">[3 ]
 * Italy – in northern Italy<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-17">[3 ]
 * Portugal
 * Greece

[edit] Description
Apertural and abapertural view of a shell of Helix pomatiaReproductive system of Helix pomatiaThe shell is creamy white to light brownish, often with indistinct brown colour bands.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-18">[3 ] The shell has 5–6 whorls.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-19">[3 ] The aperture is large.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-20">[3 ] The apertural margin is white and slightly reflected in adult snails.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-21">[3 ] The umbilicus is narrow and partly covered by the reflected columellar margin.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-22">[3 ]

The width of the shell is 30–50 mm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-23">[3 ] The height of the shell is 30–45 mm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-24">[3 ]

[edit] Habitat
In south-eastern Europe Helix pomatia lives in forests and open habitats, gardens, vineyards, especially along rivers, confined to calcareous substrate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-25">[3 ] In central Europe in open forests and shrubland on calcareous substrate.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-26">[3 ] It prefers high humidity and lower temperatures, needs loose soil to burrow in order to hibernate and lay its eggs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-27">[3 ] It lives up to 2100 m in the Alps, usually below 2000 m.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-28">[3 ] In south England it is restricted to undisturbed grassy or bushy wastelands, usually not in gardens, with a low reproduction rate and low powers of dispersal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-29">[3 ]

[edit] Life cycle
Average distance of migration reaches 3.5–6 m.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-30">[3 ]

This snail is hermaphroditic. Reproduction in central Europe occurs from end of May onwards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-31">[3 ]

Eggs are laid in June and July, in clutches of 40–65 eggs.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-32">[3 ] The size of the egg is 5.5–6.5 mm<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-33">[3 ] or 8.6 × 7.2 mm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Barker_6-0">[7 ] Juveniles hatch after 3–4 weeks, and may consume their siblings under unfavourable climate conditions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-34">[3 ] Maturity is reached after 2–5 years.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-35">[3 ] The life span is up to 20 years.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-36">[3 ] 10 year-old individuals are probably not uncommon in natural populations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-37">[3 ] The maximum lifespan is 35 years.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-38">[3 ]

During estivation or hibernation, this species creates a calcareous epiphragm in order to seal the opening of the shell.

[edit] Conservation
This species is listed in IUCN red list as Least Concern.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7">[8 ] Helix pomatia is threatened by continuous habitat destructions and drainage, usually less threatened by commercial collections.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-39">[3 ] There were many unsuccessful attempts to establish the species in various parts of England, Scotland and Ireland; it only survived in natural habitats in southern England, and is threatened by intensive farming and habitat destruction.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-40">[3 ] It is of lower concern in Switzerland and Austria, but in many regions there are restrictions on commercial collecting.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AB_2-41">[3 ]

[edit] In popular culture
In the 2005 film ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Is_It%3F What Is It? ]'' several of these snails appear: some die by crushing, others by salting.