Helix (gastropod)

Helix (gastropod)

Helix is a genus of large air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. This genus is native to Europe and the regions around the Mediterranean Sea. Helix is the type genus of the family Helicidae.

The best-known species include Helix aspersa, the common, or brown garden snail, and Helix pomatia, the Roman snail, Burgundy snail, or edible snail. H. pomatia and some other species are eaten as escargots.

Helix snails have been introduced throughout the world, where some, especially H. aspersa, have become garden pests.

The genus Helix is known from the Oligocene on.

Snails in this genus create and use love darts during mating.