Helix albescens

The shell of H. albescens is relatively small, typically measuring between 18–23 mm in diameter. It has a flat spire and a relatively wide umbilicus. The shells are typically pale or reddish-brown, with a distinctive white lip around the opening. The body of the snail is greyish-brown in color, with darker stripes running along its length.[1]

H. albescens is a terrestrial snail native to parts of Europe, including France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. It is most commonly found in woodland habitats, although it can also be found in gardens and other areas with vegetation. It is often found in areas of higher elevation, even in places with an elevation of up to 2,000 meters above sea level.[2]

Like most land snails, H. albescens is a herbivore, feeding primarily on leaves and other plant material. It is most active at night, when it will emerge from its hiding place to feed. During the day, it will usually hide in a damp, sheltered location to avoid drying out. When H. albescens wants to get up and go, it uses what is called mucus mediated gliding.[3] This looks like waves in the "foot" of the snail, which are often called pedal waves.

H. albescens is a hermaphrodite, meaning that it has both male and female reproductive organs. It lays its eggs in small clutches in damp soil, and the young snails hatch after several weeks. These egg clutches typically contain 10-25 eggs which are laid approximately 6 cm deep in the soil and will hatch after 10–15 days.[4]

Helix albescens is currently considered to be a species of least concern. However, like many land snails, it is susceptible to habitat destruction and pollution, which can impact its ability to reproduce or compete with other organisms that operate in a similar ecological niche.[5]

One of the most interesting things about H. albescens is how it has been used to further our understanding of snail morphology. One study looked into whether or not they could monitor their pain sensitivity by conducting a hot-plate test, which is exactly as barbaric as it sounds, but nevertheless showed that they had some increased sensitivity to pain when treated under the action of an electromagnetic field.[6] Another experiment attempted to prevent desynchronosis, or the disruption of circadian rhythms,[7] caused by ferromagnetic shielding by using a variable magnetic field of 8hz.[8]