Subfamily Rumininae Rank Species | Family Subulinidae Genus Rumina Higher classification Rumina | |
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Similar Rumina, Subulinidae, Eobania vermiculata, Otala punctata, Theba pisana | ||
Decollate snails eating brown garden snail
The decollate snail, scientific name Rumina decollata, is a medium-sized predatory land snail, a species of terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Subulinidae. It is a European species that has been introduced in a number of areas worldwide.
Contents
- Decollate snails eating brown garden snail
- Decollate snails
- Distribution
- Shell description
- Life habits
- References
Decollate snails
Distribution
This species is native to the Mediterranean excluding south-east Mediterranean.
It is introduced in Israel and in Egypt since Roman times. It has been introduced into North America, including Phoenix and Glendale, Arizona, and other areas as a biological control agent, in hopes of controlling populations of the brown garden snail.
It is found in Great Britain, as a "hothouse alien"
Shell description
The shell of the decollate snail is long and roughly cone-shaped. It grows to approximately 40 mm in length, and upon reaching mature size, grinds or chips off the end of its own shell by moving its body roughly against hard surfaces, so that the shell takes on a decollate shape, tapering to a blunt end.
Life habits
Rumina decollata is a voracious predator, and feeds readily upon common garden snails and slugs and their eggs. The snail eats plant matter as well, but the damage it causes to plants is considered minor when compared with the benefit of its predation on garden snails and other pest species of snails. Unfortunately it will also consume harmless local species of land gastropods, and beneficial annelids.
Decollate snails are tolerant of dry and cold conditions, during which they burrow deep into the soil. They are most active during the night and during rainfall.