Otala lactea

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Superfamily: Helicoidea
Family: Helicidae
Genus: Otala
Species: O. lactea (Synonyms: Helix lactea, Iberus alonensis)

Otala lactea is a land snail native of the Hiberian peninsula and north-western Africa, but it has been introduced to other areas as well. It is notable for its highly-variable shell colours and patterns. It should not be confused with fellow Mediterranean snails Eobania vermiculata and Otala punctata, from which it differentiates because of its uniformly dark aperture and the columellar tooth (only visible when the snail is completely retracted inside).

Leave a comment

Blog Stats

  • 293,322 hits