Cochlicopa spp
Date first recorded in the Garden: 20.03.2025
Family Cochlicopidae
This family of snails, is known collectively as Pillar Snails. There are two species recorded in the UK (see below).
Slippery OR Least Slippery Snail – Cochlicopa lubrica OR Cochlicopa lubricella
This air breathing land snail is common and widespread across the UK, but due to its small size is frequently overlooked. Our specimen (just the empty shell in this case), is either Cochlicopa lubrica OR Cochlicopa lubricella. Its size as can been seen in the image above is roughly 5.5mm long. This suggests its more likely to be the latter of these two species, with C. lubrica generally being larger (up to 7.8mm) than C. lubricella (up to 6.8mm)*. However, other characteristics suggest the opposite, with C. lubrica generally being stockier in appearance, which our specimen could be said to be. Ideally you need examples of both in one location to compare.
We are minded to believe this is C. lubricella due to its small size and comparing it to online images. Either way, species belonging to the genus Cochlicopa tend to feed on plants, detritus and fungi as you might expect. The animal itself, should we find a live one, is grey in colour.
The species is identified by the lack of teeth in the mouth opening (see above image), which separates it from many other similar looking species of around the same size. For example the image below of the species Lauria cylindracea (first recorded in the Garden in 2023) has a clear tooth on the mouth opening as shown below (on the upper side of the opening in this image).
* Sizes according to: Cameron, R. (2003) Land Snails in the British Isles. Preston Montford: FSC Publication
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