Distribution
This snail is endemic to Mediterranean and Western Europe, including the British Isles. This species has been recovered from the Roman occupation of Volubilis, an archaeological site in present day Morocco.
Cernuella virgata is an invasive species and an agricultural pest in parts of Australia, where it arrived around 1920. In Australia it is known as the "common white snail".
Another land snail which is present as an invasive in Australia, and which is sometimes confused with Cernuella virgata is the species Theba pisana. It is somewhat similar in appearance, and lives under similar circumstances. Theba pisana is however a larger species with a more inflated shell, lower spire and a nearly covered umbilicus.
Comparison of shells of Cernuella virgata and Theba pisana:
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Cernuella virgata, showing the "open" umbilicus
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Theba pisana with nearly "closed" umbilicus
Read more about this topic: Cernuella Virgata
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