Draparnaud's Glass Snail - Oxychilus draparnaudi

Description

This is the largest of the Glass Snails, reaching up to 15mm across. Unlike the other Oxychilus species, it has a waxy, not glossy, shell which is yellowish-brown in colour. It has a blue-grey body.

Similar Species

Oxychilis snails can be a challenge to distinguish but O. drapanaudi can usually be distinguished by the combination of size and colour.

Species Size Shell Smell Other
O. alliaris 6-8mm glossy garlic  
O. navarricus 8-10mm very glossy poss. garlic black mantle band
O. cellarius 9-12mm glossy none  
O. drapanaudi 11-16mm waxy none  
Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. In the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed.

Habitat

Found in gardens and shady habitats.

When to see it

All year.

Life History

Lives in leaf litter and under plants and stones where it predates other snails.

UK Status

It is common and widespread, particularly in the southern half of Britain.

VC55 Status

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
Draparnaud's Glass Snail
Species group:
Slugs & Snails
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Pulmonata
Family:
Oxychilidae
Records on NatureSpot:
69
First record:
14/09/1985 (Rundle, Adrian)
Last record:
18/12/2023 (Harper, Philip)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records