Cernuella virgataCommon name: Vineyard Snail
Meaning of name: Unknown.
Distribution: Reported from southern parts of Australia.
Description: This snail grows to approximately 20 millimetres in diameter. It has a creamy-white background with dark spiral markings. The darker markings form continuous spirals. Cernuella virgata is identified by its open umbilicus – the hole in the centre of the spiral is fully exposed.
Notes: This snail is native to Mediterranean and Western Europe. It arrived in Australia around 1920 and has become an agricultural pest. This species aestivates after climbing to the top of vegetation (or fences). This habit is problematic for farmers engaged in crop harvesting, because numerous snails are collected along with the crop.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cernuella_virgata
Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/8acfe2e7-e713-48e4-a5b5-3d2d91534292#classification
Cernuella virgata has continuous dark markings in its spiral.
The umbilicus, or hole, in the centre of the spiral is an identifying feature.
