Helix (genus)
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''Helix'' is a
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of large, air-breathing land
snails A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class Gastrop ...
native to
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
and the Mediterranean region. They are the type genus of the family Helicidae, and are among the first animal genera described by
Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
.Rosenberg, G.; Bouchet, P. (2014). ''Helix'' Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=153970 on 2015-02-24 Members of the genus first appeared during the
Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but the ...
. Like most land snails, ''Helix'' species are hermaphroditic, and like other helicids, a courting pair will impale each other with
hormone A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones are required ...
-rich love darts prior to exchanging
sperm Sperm is the male reproductive cell, or gamete, in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction (forms in which there is a larger, female reproductive cell and a smaller, male one). Animals produce motile sperm with a tail known as a flagellum, whi ...
. Well-known
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
include ''
Helix pomatia ''Helix pomatia'', common names the Roman snail, Burgundy snail, or escargot, is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod terrestrial mollusc in the family Helicidae.MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. ...
'' (Roman snail, Burgundy snail, or edible snail) and ''
Helix lucorum ''Helix lucorum'' is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the typical snails. MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Helix lucorum Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed throu ...
'' (Turkish snail). '' Cornu aspersum'' (garden snail) – another well-known helicid – was originally described as a member of ''Helix'' (as "''Helix aspersa''"), but the prevailing classification places it as the sole member of the
sister genus In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and t ...
''Cornu''. ''Helix'' snails have been harvested for human consumption since prehistoric times. In the
common era Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) are year notations for the Gregorian calendar (and its predecessor, the Julian calendar), the world's most widely used calendar era. Common Era and Before the Common Era are alternatives to the or ...
, members of the genus (particularly ''H. pomatia'') are
farmed Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...
throughout the world for the dish escargot, an ''
hors d'oeuvre An hors d'oeuvre ( ; french: hors-d'œuvre ), appetiser or starter is a small dish served before a meal in European cuisine. Some hors d'oeuvres are served cold, others hot. Hors d'oeuvres may be served at the dinner table as a part of the m ...
''. The establishment of snail farms outside of Europe has introduced several species to North America, South America, and Africa, where some escapees have established themselves as
invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...
.


Taxonomy

Some taxonomists remove the species "''Helix aperta''", "''Helix aspersa''", and "''Helix mazzullii''" from the genus ''Helix'' and place them in their own monotypic genera as ''
Cantareus apertus ''Cantareus apertus'', commonly known as the green garden snail, is a species of air-breathing land snail, a Terrestrial animal, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family (biology), family Helicidae, the typical snails. Distribution ...
'', ''Cornu aspersum'', and ''
Cantareus mazzullii ''Helix mazzullii'', also known as ''Cantareus mazzullii'' or ''Cornu mazzullii'', is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the typical snails. This species is ...
''. At the beginning in the mid-1700s, the generic name ''Helix'' had been used for almost all terrestrial gastropods; later this was restricted to species with helicoid habitus, including zonitids and other groups. In the course of the 1800s, more groups were removed, but prior to 1900, several thousand helicid and hygromiid species of Europe and abroad had still been classified in the genus ''Helix''. By the early 1900s, the genus was split into many separate genera, leaving only some 30 species closely related to its type species ''Helix pomatia'' in the genus. The genus ''Helix'' has many synonyms: * ''Callunea'' Scudder, 1882 * ''Cochlea'' Da Costa, 1778 * ''Coenatoria'' Held, 1838 * ''Cunula'' Pallary, 1936 * ''Glischrus'' S. Studer, 1820 * ''Glischrus (Helix)'' Linnaeus,
1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the sta ...
* ''Helicites'' W. Martin, 1809 (Established for fossils of Helix to distinguish them from extant members of that taxon. Invalid: available only for the purposes of the Principle of Homonymy (Art. 20)) * ''Helicogena'' A. Férussac, 1821 * ''Helix (Helix)'' Linnaeus,
1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the sta ...
· accepted, alternate representation * ''Helix (Pelasga)'' P. Hesse, 1908· accepted, alternate representation * ''Megastoma'' Scudder, 1882 * ''Naegelea'' P. Hesse, 1918 * ''Pachyphallus'' P. Hesse, 1918 * ''Pentataenia'' A. Schmidt, 1855 (junior objective synonym) * ''Physospira'' C.R. Boettger, 1914 * ''Pomatia'' Beck, 1837 * ''Pomatiana'' Fagot, 1903 * ''Pomatiella'' Pallary, 1909 * ''Pseudofigulina'' P. Hesse, 1917 * ''Rhododerma'' P. Hesse, 1918 * ''Tacheopsis'' Boettger, 1909 * ''Tammouzia'' Pallary, 1939 Many species of ''Helix'' have been brought into synonymy: * ''Helix achates'' Rossmässler, 1835: synonym of ''
Chilostoma achates ''Chilostoma achates'' is a species of medium-sized, air-breathing, land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the true snails. IUCN has defined the snail as Near threatened A near-threatened species is a ...
'' (Rossmässler, 1835) * ''Helix afra'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''
Pedipes pedipes ''Pedipes'' is a genus of small air-breathing snails, pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Pedipedinae of the family Ellobiidae Ellobiidae, common name the hollow-shelled snails, is a family of small air-breathing land snails, terres ...
'' (Bruguière, 1789) * ''Helix amarula'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Thiara amarula ''Thiara amarula'' is a species of gastropod belonging to the family Thiaridae. Description The length of the shell attains 32 mm. Distribution The species is found in Malesia, coasts of Indian and Pacific Ocean.; off Queensland ) , nickn ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix ambigua'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Fossarus ambiguus ''Fossarus ambiguus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Planaxidae. Distribution Description The maximum recorded shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structur ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix ampullacea'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Pila ampullacea ''Pila ampullacea'', is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Pila ampullacea (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: Wo ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix aorangi'' Suter, 1890: synonym of '' Huonodon microundulatum'' (Suter, 1890) * ''Helix auricularia'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Radix auricularia ''Radix auricularia'', the big-ear radix, is a species of medium-sized freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Lymnaeidae.Neubauer, Thomas A.; Rosenberg, G.; Gofas, S. (2014). Radix auricularia (Linnaeus, 1758) ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix australis'' Férussac, 1821: synonym of '' Austrosuccinea australis'' (Férussac, 1821) * ''Helix cingulata'' (Studer, 1820): synonym of ''
Chilostoma cingulatum ''Chilostoma cingulatum'' is a species of medium-sized, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are kn ...
'' (Studer, 1820) * ''Helix cingulata'' var. ''olympica'' Roth, 1855: synonym of ''
Cattania olympica ''Cattania'' is a genus of gastropods belonging to the family Helicidae. The species of this genus are found in Southeastern Europe. Species: *'' Cattania apfelbecki'' *'' Cattania ardica'' *'' Cattania balcanica'' *'' Cattania faueri'' *'' ...
'' (Roth, 1855) * ''Helix complanata'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Hippeutis complanatus ''Hippeutis complanatus'', or the flat ram's-horn snail, is a species of minute air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. ''Hippeutis complanatus'' i ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix contorta'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Bathyomphalus contortus ''Bathyomphalus contortus'' is a species of small air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies. Distribution The distribution of this species is Pa ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix corallina'' Chemnitz, 1795: synonym of '' Scalenostoma subulatum'' (Broderip, 1832) * ''Helix coriacea'' Pallas, 1788: synonym of '' Velutina coriacea'' (Pallas, 1788) * ''Helix cornuarietis'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Marisa cornuarietis ''Marisa cornuarietis'', common name the Colombian ramshorn apple snail, is a species of large freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snail family. These snails are popular in a ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix corvus'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Corvusiana corvus'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Helix crenata'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''
Amphibola crenata ''Amphibola crenata'' (''tītiko'' in the Māori language or mud-flat snail in English) is a species of air-breathing snail with an operculum, a pulmonate gastropod mollusc which lives in a habitat that is intermediate between the land and the se ...
'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Helix cyclostomoides'' Pfeiffer, 1840: synonym of '' Vitrinella cyclostomoides'' (Pfeiffer, 1840) * ''Helix decussata'' Montagu, 1803: synonym of '' Rissoina decussata'' ( Montagu, 1803) * ''Helix depressa'' Montagu, 1803: synonym of ''
Skeneopsis planorbis ''Skeneopsis planorbis'' is a species of gastropods belonging to the family Skeneopsidae. The species is found in Eastern Northern America, Northern Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the At ...
'' (O. Fabricius, 1780) * ''Helix eburnea'' Mühlfeld, 1824: synonym of '' Melanella eburnea'' (Mühlfeld, 1824) * ''Helix fasciata'' Adams J., 1800: synonym of ''
Lacuna parva ''Lacuna parva'', common name the tiny lacuna, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae The Littorinidae are a Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic family (biology), family of over 200 species of sea snails, m ...
'' (da Costa, 1778) * ''Helix fasciolata'' Spix in Wagner, 1827: synonym of ''
Asolene crassa ''Asolene'' is a genus of freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. The distribution of the genus ''Asolene'' includes South America.
'' (Swainson, 1823) * ''Helix flavocincta'' Mühlfeld, 1829: synonym of ''
Eulima glabra ''Eulima glabra'' (Dutch: ''grote glanshoren'') is a species of small parasitic sea snail, a marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusk in the family (biology), family Eulimidae. The species is one of a number within the genus ''Eulima''.da Costa, ...
'' (da Costa, 1778) * ''Helix fossaria'' Montagu, 1803: synonym of ''
Galba truncatula ''Galba truncatula'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Neubauer, Thomas A. (2014). Galba (Galba) truncatula (Müller, 1774). Accessed through: World R ...
'' (O. F. Müller, 1774) * ''Helix fragilis'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Lymnaea fragilis ''Lymnaea'' is a genus of small to large-sized air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Lymnaeinae ( of the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2013). Lymnaea Lamarck, 179 ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix fulgidus'' Adams J., 1797: synonym of ''
Eatonina fulgida ''Eatonina fulgida'' is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cingulopsidae. Distribution Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, Nor ...
'' (Adams J., 1797) * ''Helix glabrata'' Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1824: synonym of '' Pisinna glabrata'' (Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1824) * ''Helix glauca'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Pomacea glauca ''Pomacea glauca'' is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. The species varies greatly in color, shape and size, growing to around 70 mm. Its colors include a pale yellow ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix grenvillei'' Brazier, 1876: synonym of ''
Thysanota grenvillei ''Thysanota'' is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Charopidae. These snails are restricted to South India and Sri Lanka. Eight species are recognized. Species * ''Thysanota conula'' ...
(''Brazier, 1876) * ''Helix haliotoidea'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Sinum haliotoideum ''Sinum'' is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Sininae of the family Naticidae, the moon snails. Most naticids have shells that are globular, but the shell of species in the genus ''Sinum'' is flattene ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix janthina'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Janthina janthina ''Janthina janthina'' is a species of holoplanktonic sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Epitoniidae. Its common names include violet sea-snail, common violet snail, large violet snail and purple storm snail. Distribution This ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix janthina'' Linnaeus, 1764: synonym of ''Janthina prolongata'' Blainville, 1822: synonym of ''
Janthina globosa ''Janthina globosa'' is a species of holoplanktonic sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Epitoniidae, the violet snails or purple storm snails.MolluscaBase (2019). MolluscaBase. Janthina globosa Swainson, 1822. Accessed through: Wo ...
'' Swainson, 1822 * ''Helix labiosa'' Montagu, 1803: synonym of '' Rissoa membranacea'' (J. Adams, 1800) * ''Helix lacuna'' Montagu, 1803: synonym of ''
Lacuna parva ''Lacuna parva'', common name the tiny lacuna, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae The Littorinidae are a Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic family (biology), family of over 200 species of sea snails, m ...
'' (da Costa, 1778) * ''Helix laevigata'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of '' Velutina velutina'' (O. F. Müller, 1776) * ''Helix littorina'' delle Chiaje, 1828: synonym of ''Paludinella littorina'' (delle Chiaje, 1828): synonym of '' Melarhaphe neritoides'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix macneili'' Crosse, 1873: synonym of '' Averellia macneili'' (Crosse, 1873) * ''Helix margarita'' Montagu, 1808: synonym of ''
Margarites helicinus ''Margarites helicinus'', common name the helicina margarite or spiral margarite, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Margaritidae. ''Margarites helicinus'' has been established by Phipps in 1774 and not by Fabri ...
'' (Phipps, 1774) * ''Helix mespillum'' Mühlfeld, 1824: synonym of '' Echinolittorina mespillum'' (Mühlfeld, 1824) * ''Helix neritina'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''
Pomacea glauca ''Pomacea glauca'' is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. The species varies greatly in color, shape and size, growing to around 70 mm. Its colors include a pale yellow ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix neritoidea'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of '' Sinum neritoideum'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix neritoidea'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''
Lamellaria perspicua ''Lamellaria perspicua'', commonly known as the transparent lamellaria, is a species of small, slug-like sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Velutinidae. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, w ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix nutans'' Mühlfeld, 1824: synonym of '' Melanella nutans'' (Mühlfeld, 1824) * ''Helix oculuscommunis'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''
Pomacea glauca ''Pomacea glauca'' is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. The species varies greatly in color, shape and size, growing to around 70 mm. Its colors include a pale yellow ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix otis'' Turton, 1819: synonym of '' Otina ovata'' (Brown, 1827) * ''Helix paradoxa'' Born, 1778: synonym of '' Chrysostoma paradoxum'' (Born, 1778) * ''Helix perspicua'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Lamellaria perspicua ''Lamellaria perspicua'', commonly known as the transparent lamellaria, is a species of small, slug-like sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Velutinidae. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, w ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix petraea'' Montagu, 1803: synonym of '' Melarhaphe neritoides'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix platae'' Maton, 1811: synonym of ''
Asolene platae ''Asolene platae'' is a species of freshwater snail in the family Ampullariidae, first described by William George Maton in 1811. Distribution The species is native to the Río de la Plata basin. They are also found in the pet trade where the ...
'' (Maton, 1811) * ''Helix priamus'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of '' Ampulla priamus'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Helix purpurea'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''
Cantharidus purpureus ''Micrelenchus purpureus'', common name the red opal top shell, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusc in the family (biology), family Trochidae.MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Micrelenchus purp ...
'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Helix rodriguezensis'' Crosse, 1873: synonym of ''
Dancea rodriguezensis ''Dancea rodriguezensis'' is a species of air-breathing land snail, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Euconulidae, the hive snails. This species is endemic to Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, l ...
'' (Crosse, 1873) * ''Helix scabra'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Littoraria scabra ''Littoraria scabra'', common name : the mangrove periwinkle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. Distribution and habitat This species is distributed in the Red Sea, the ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix scarabaeus'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Pythia scarabaeus ''Pythia scarabaeus'' is a species of air-breathing saltmarsh snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Ellobiidae.Rosenberg, G. (2014). Pythia scarabaeus. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.or ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix serpuloides'' Montagu, 1808: synonym of ''
Skenea serpuloides ''Skenea serpuloides'' is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Skeneidae. Description The size of the shell attains 2 mm. The white shell is widely umbilicated and has a turbinate shape. The spire is eleva ...
'' (Montagu, 1808) * ''Helix solida'' Born, 1778: synonym of '' Phasianella solida'' (Born, 1778) * ''Helix stagnalis'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Lymnaea stagnalis ''Lymnaea stagnalis'', better known as the great pond snail, is a species of large air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Lymnaeidae. The great pond snail is a model organism to study parasitology, ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix stagnorum'' Gmelin, 1791: synonym of ''Heleobia stagnorum'' (Gmelin, 1791): synonym of ''
Semisalsa stagnorum ''Semisalsa stagnorum'' is a species of small brackish water snail with a gill and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Cochliopidae.Rosenberg, G. (2014). Semisalsa stagnorum (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through: World Registe ...
'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Helix subcarinata'' Montagu, 1803: synonym of '' Tornus subcarinatus'' ( Montagu, 1803) * ''Helix subcylindrica'' Linnaeus, 1767: synonym of ''
Truncatella subcylindrica ''Truncatella subcylindrica'' is a species of small land snail that lives at the edge of the sea. It has gills and an operculum and is gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Truncatellidae. MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Trunc ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1767) * ''Helix sulphurea'' C. B. Adams, 1849: synonym of '' Tonna pennata'' (Mörch, 1853) * ''Helix tentaculata'' Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of ''
Bithynia tentaculata ''Bithynia tentaculata'', common names the mud bithynia or common bithynia, or faucet snailKipp R. M. & Benson A. (2008). ''Bithynia tentaculata''. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/Fac ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix terebellum'' O. F. Müller, 1774: synonym of ''
Pyramidella dolabrata ''Pyramidella dolabrata'', common name the "giant Atlantic pyram", is a somewhat variable species of small to medium-sized (max size 36 mm) sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the (mostly minute) family Pyramidellidae, the pyram snails. ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Helix variabilis'' Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1824: synonym of ''
Rissoa variabilis ''Rissoa variabilis'', common name the variable risso, is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc or micromollusc in the family Rissoidae Rissoidae is a large family of very small and minute sea snails with an operculum, m ...
'' (Von Mühlfeldt, 1824)


Description

In addition to the hard, calcareous shell that covers and protects the internal organs, the head and foot regions can be observed when the snails are fully extended. When they are active, the organs such as the
lung The lungs are the primary organs of the respiratory system in humans and most other animals, including some snails and a small number of fish. In mammals and most other vertebrates, two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of t ...
,
heart The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide t ...
,
kidney The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs found in vertebrates. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about in length. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; blood ...
, and intestines remain inside the shell; only the head and foot emerge. The head of the snail has two pairs of tentacles; the upper and larger pair contains the eyes, and the lower pair is used to feel the ground in front. The mouth is located just underneath the head. The tentacles can be withdrawn or extended depending on the situation. The mouth has a
tongue The tongue is a muscular organ (anatomy), organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for mastication and swallowing as part of the digestive system, digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surfa ...
called a "
radula The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food ...
" that is composed of many fine, chitinous
teeth A tooth ( : teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, tear ...
. This serves for rasping and cutting food.


Behaviour

From April through the northern summer, the number of snails
copulating Sexual intercourse (or coitus or copulation) is a sexual activity typically involving the insertion and thrusting of the penis into the vagina for sexual pleasure or reproduction.Sexual intercourse most commonly means penile–vaginal penetra ...
increases due to the higher temperature and humidity, which enhance the possibility of oviposition. The pulmonate snails are hermaphroditic, meaning that both female and male sexual organs are present in the same individual. The snails produce both eggs and
sperm Sperm is the male reproductive cell, or gamete, in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction (forms in which there is a larger, female reproductive cell and a smaller, male one). Animals produce motile sperm with a tail known as a flagellum, whi ...
in the ovotestis (also called the hermaphrodite gland), but it is later separated into two divisions, a sperm duct and oviduct, respectively. Mating takes several hours, sometimes a day. ''H. aspersa'' snails stab a calcite spine, known as a " love dart", at their partner. The love dart is coated with a mucus that contains a chemical that enables more than twice as many sperm to survive inside the recipient. A few days after mating, the eggs are laid in the soil. The eggs are usually 4–6 mm in diameter. After snails hatch from the egg, they mature in one or more years, depending on where the organism lives. Maturity takes two years in Southern
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, while it takes only 10 months in
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. The size of the adult snails slightly varies with species. ''H. aspersa'' grows up to 35 mm in height and width, whereas ''H. pomatia'' grows up to 45 mm. The lifespan of snails in the wild is typically 2-3 years. Some snails may live longer, perhaps even 30 years or older in the case of the Roman snail but most live less than 8 years. Many deaths are due to predators and
parasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has ...
s. Since its publication in March 1974 issue of '' Natural History'' an estimate for the highest speed of garden snail equal to 0.03 mph (1.3 cm/s) became popular. However, the accuracy of this estimate has been questioned by Robert Cameron, who pointed out that in competitions between snails, only 2.4 mm/s speed had been achieved. There is a need for clarification and behavioural observation here though: competitions are usually held on the flat, whereas a snail's natural preference is vertical ascent, possibly an instinct derived from hatching in an earth "pod" and having to climb upwards to the surface.


Respiration

Since snails in the genus ''Helix'' are terrestrial rather than freshwater or marine, they have developed a simple lung for respiration. (Most other snails and gastropods have
gill A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
s, instead.)
Oxygen Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as wel ...
is carried by the blood pigment
hemocyanin Hemocyanins (also spelled haemocyanins and abbreviated Hc) are proteins that transport oxygen throughout the bodies of some invertebrate animals. These metalloproteins contain two copper atoms that reversibly bind a single oxygen molecule (O2) ...
. Both oxygen and
carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide (chemical formula ) is a chemical compound made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in the gas state at room temperature. In the air, carbon dioxide is transpar ...
diffuse in and out of blood through the capillaries. A muscular valve regulates the process of opening and closing the entrance of the lung. When the valve opens, the air can either enter or leave the lung. The valve plays an important role in reducing water loss and preventing drowning.


Ecology

''Helix'' snails prefer cool, damp environments, as they easily suffer moisture loss. Snails are most active at night and after
rainfall Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water f ...
. During unfavourable conditions, a snail remains inside its shell, usually under rocks or other hiding places, to avoid being discovered by
predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...
s. In dry climates, snails naturally congregate near water sources, including artificial sources such as wastewater outlets of
air conditioner Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C or AC, is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior environment (sometimes referred to as 'comfort cooling') and in some cases also strictly controlling ...
s. The common garden snail (''H.aspersa'') is herbivorous. These snails are able to digest most vegetation, including
carrot The carrot ('' Daucus carota'' subsp. ''sativus'') is a root vegetable, typically orange in color, though purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the wild carrot, ''Daucus carota'', nat ...
s and lettuce. They also have a specialized crop of symbiotic
bacteria Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among ...
that aid in their digestion, especially with the breakdown of the polysaccharide
cellulose Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important structural component of the primary cell wall ...
into simple sugars. Many predators, both specialist and generalist, feed on snails. Some animals, such as the
song thrush The song thrush (''Turdus philomelos'') is a Thrush (bird), thrush that breeds across the West Palearctic. It has brown upper-parts and black-spotted cream or buff underparts and has three recognised subspecies. Its distinctive Birdsong, song, ...
, break the shell of the snail by hammering it against a hard object, such as stone, to expose its edible insides. Other predators, such as some species of
frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...
s, circumvent the need to break snail shells by simply swallowing the snail whole, shell and all. Some carnivorous species of snails, such as the
decollate snail The decollate snail, scientific name ''Rumina decollata'', is a medium-sized predatory land snail, a species of terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinidae. It is a European species that has been introduced in a number o ...
and the rosy wolf snail, also prey on ''Helix'' snails. Such carnivorous snails are commercially grown and sold to combat pest snail species. Many of these also escape into the wild, where they prey on indigenous snails, such as the Cuban land snails of the genus ''
Polymita ''Polymita'' is a genus of large, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helminthoglyptidae. These snails are endemic to Cuba. Anatomy ''Polymita'' creates and uses love darts as part of its mating be ...
'', and the indigenous snails of
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
.


Edible snails

''H. pomatia'' and ''H. aspersa'' are the two edible species that are most used in European
cuisine A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
. Spanish cuisine also uses '' Otala punctata'', ''
Theba pisana ''Theba pisana'', common names the white garden snail, sand hill snail, white Italian snail, Mediterranean coastal snail, and simply just the Mediterranean snail, is an edible species of medium-sized, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmon ...
'', and '' Iberus gualterianus alonensis'', amongst others. The process of snail farming is called
heliciculture Heliciculture, commonly known as snail farming, is the process of raising edible land snails, primarily for human consumption or cosmetic use. The meat and snail eggs a.k.a. ''white caviar'' can be consumed as escargot and as a type of caviar, res ...
. Escargots are often traditionally served as appetizers. They may also be used as ingredients in other recipes. Snails contain many
nutrients A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi, and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excret ...
. They are rich in
calcium Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to ...
and also contain vitamin B1 and E. They contain various essential
amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha am ...
s, and are low in
calorie The calorie is a unit of energy. For historical reasons, two main definitions of "calorie" are in wide use. The large calorie, food calorie, or kilogram calorie was originally defined as the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of on ...
s and
fat In nutrition science, nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such chemical compound, compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food. The term often refers spec ...
.


List of ''Helix'' species

There are also 6 extinct species of ''Helix'': *'' Helix barbeyana'' De Stefani in De Stefani et al., 1891 *'' Helix divionensis'' J. Martin, 1866 *'' Helix krejcii'' Wenz in Krejci-Graf & Wenz, 1926 *'' Helix mrazeci'' Sevastos, 1922 *'' Helix sublutescens'' Wenz in Krejci & Wenz, 1926


Taxon inquirendum In biological classification, a ''species inquirenda'' is a species of doubtful identity requiring further investigation. The use of the term in English-language biological literature dates back to at least the early nineteenth century. The term t ...

* Helix (Cochlichondra) Jan, 1830 * Helix (Cochlogibba) Jan, 1830 * Helix (Patera) Albers, 1850 (Invalid: junior homonym of Patera Lesson, 1839
nidaria Cnidaria () is a phylum under kingdom Animalia containing over 11,000 species of aquatic animals found both in Fresh water, freshwater and Marine habitats, marine environments, predominantly the latter. Their distinguishing feature is cnidocyt ...
* Helix achilli Bourguignat, 1883 * Helix acompsia (Bourguignat, 1863) * Helix adelaidae L. Pfeiffer, 1857 * Helix adusta Hinds, 1845 * Helix ahmedi Pallary, 1899 * Helix aidae Pallary, 1899 * Helix alata L. Pfeiffer, 1856 * Helix albersi L. Pfeiffer, 1849 * Helix albidens Benson, 1853 * Helix alinae Pallary, 1899 * Helix alsiella Pallary, 1899 * Helix alveolus Heude, 1890 * Helix annamitica Crosse & Fischer, 1863 * Helix anomia Heude, 1890 * Helix ansorinus Theobald, 1866 * Helix appressa Say, 1821 * Helix arabophila Pallary, 1898 * Helix araneaetela Heude, 1885 * Helix artificiosa Benson, 1856 * Helix arundinetorum Heude, 1882 * Helix avidorum Cox, 1868 * Helix bahamensis L. Pfeiffer, 1845 * Helix barclayana L. Pfeiffer, 1847 * Helix barrakporensis Benson, 1859 * Helix batchianensis L. Pfeiffer, 1861 * Helix batesii L. Pfeiffer, 1860 * Helix beccarii Jickeli, 1874 (taxon inquirendum, replacement name for Helix ciliata non Venetz) * Helix belcheri L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix bicallosula Heude, 1886 * Helix biconvexa Martens, 1864 * Helix binneyana L. Pfeiffer, 1847 * Helix bizona Gredler, 1884 * Helix boissieri S. Moricand, 1846 * Helix bombax Benson, 1859 * Helix bonplandii Lamarck, 1822 * Helix bourguignati L. Pfeiffer, 1857 * Helix boxalli G. B. Sowerby III, 1888 (use in recent literature currently undocumented) * Helix brocchii Jickeli, 1874 (invalid; not F. Sandberger, 1872) * Helix brucei Jickeli, 1874 (use in recent literature currently undocumented) * ''Helix bullina'' Férussac, 1832 (has also been mistakenly identified as ''
Amphibulima rubescens ''Rhodonyx rubescens'' is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Amphibulimidae. MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Rhodonyx rubescens (Deshayes, 1830). Accessed through: World Register ...
'' Deshayes, 1830) Nathaniel F. Shoobs , Bram Breure, Revision-of-the-Lesser-Antillean-genera-Amphibulima-and-Pellicula
* Helix buvignieri Deshayes, 1874]
* Helix buxina Heude, 1886 * Helix caelatura Férussac, 1821 * Helix calpis Benson, 1859 * Helix calymma Schmacker & O. Boettger, 1894 * Helix campelica Mabille, 1886 (taxon inquirendum, no documented use in recent literature) * Helix capessens Benson, 1856 * Helix carinata Link, 1807 * Helix carmeliensis L. Pfeiffer, 1861 * Helix carpalima J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix cassidula Benson, 1859 * Helix caucasica L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix ceryx Benson, 1859 * Helix chadiana Pallary, 1899 * Helix cherifiana Pallary, 1899 * Helix chionodiscus L. Pfeiffer, 1857 * Helix cimex Reeve, 1854 * Helix coagulata L. Pfeiffer, 1856 * Helix conrauxiana Heude, 1885 * Helix conulus Martens, 1864 * Helix corneola Clessin, 1874 * Helix cumulus Reeve, 1854 * Helix cyclostomopsis I. Lea, 1834 * Helix cyclotrema Benson, 1863 * Helix cypsele L. Pfeiffer, 1849 * Helix cyrenaica E. von Martens, 1883 * ''Helix debauxii'' Noulet, 1854 † * Helix decidua L. Pfeiffer, 1857 * Helix delavayana Heude, 1885 * Helix demolita Heude, 1885 * Helix depsta Cox, 1870 * Helix dhericourtiana Bourguignat, 1885 * Helix diaphana I. Lea, 1834 * Helix diniensis Rambur, 1868 * Helix doufourii Grateloup, 1840 * Helix dubia Clessin, 1874 * Helix ductilis Pfeiffer, 1857 * Helix egregia Deshayes, 1850 * Helix emmae Pallary, 1899 * Helix exacta L. Pfeiffer, 1863 * Helix exilis O. F. Müller, 1774 * Helix expansa Clessin, 1874 * Helix exserta L. Pfeiffer, 1856 * Helix faradensis L. Pfeiffer, 1861 * Helix fauna Philippi, 1851 * Helix faunus Broderip, 1841 * Helix ferretiana Bourguignat, 1883 * Helix filaris L. Pfeiffer, 1845 * Helix flammata Férussac, 1821 * Helix flaveola Martens, 1864 * Helix fornicata Gould, 1846 * Helix forrestiana Angas, 1875 * Helix fortunei Heude, 1882 * Helix fossaria Montagu, 1803 * Helix fritillata Benson, 1863 * Helix galinieriana Bourguignat, 1883 * Helix gaudiella Mabille, 1886 (taxon inquirendum, no documented use in recent literature) * Helix gerlachi Möllendorff * Helix gigas L. Pfeiffer, 1850 * Helix giraudeliana Heude, 1882 * Helix globula I. Lea, 1834 * Helix glomerosa Godwin-Austen, 1883 * Helix gordoniae Benson, 1863 * Helix graminum Heude, 1882 * Helix griffithi L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix grossularia L. Pfeiffer, 1861 * Helix guadalcanarensis Cox, 1872 * Helix guinaria L. Pfeiffer, 1861 * Helix haesitans Heude, 1888 * Helix hamacenica Bourguignat, 1883 * Helix hamudae Kobelt, 1886 (taxon inquirendum, use in recent literature currently undocumented) * Helix helmii G. B. Sowerby I, 1838 (taxon inquirendum, use in recent literature currently undocumented) * Helix herbini Bourguignat, 1883 * Helix herpestes Heude, 1885 * Helix herza J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix hians L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix hongkongensis Deshayes, 1874 * Helix horripilosella Heude, 1885 * Helix huberiana Heude, 1882 * Helix iae Pallary, 1899 * Helix improvisa Heude, 1885 * Helix ingloria Heude, 1890 * Helix involuta L. Pfeiffer, 1845 * Helix jacob Gredler, 1887 * Helix keratina Heude, 1889 * Helix kuangtunensis Gredler, 1881 * Helix labiata L. Pfeiffer, 1845 * Helix lamellata M. Bielz, 1851 * Helix languescens Heude, 1890 * Helix lariollei Pallary, 1899 * Helix latrunculorum Heude, 1885 * Helix lenticularis Morelet, 1853 * Helix linnaeana L. Pfeiffer, 1845 * Helix listeri Broderip, 1841 * Helix loxodon L. Pfeiffer, 1850 * Helix luctativa J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix lutuosa Deshayes, 1874 * Helix lyrata Gould, 1846 * Helix madritensis Rambur, 1868 * Helix mamilla * Helix marcida Benson, 1853 * Helix margaritacea A. Schmidt, 1852 * Helix melillensis Pallary, 1899 * Helix mellita Heude, 1886 * Helix mellitula Heude, 1886 * Helix mendanae Cox, 1873 * Helix mendicaria L. Pfeiffer, 1860 * Helix mensalis Heude, 1888 * Helix meretrix G. B. Sowerby I, 1841 (taxon inquirendum, use in recent literature currently undocumented) * Helix meridionalis Mousson, 1854 (taxon inquirendum, non Wood, 1828) * Helix mersispira Martens, 1864 * Helix mesquiniana Pallary, 1898 * Helix micacea Heude, 1882 * Helix microzaffarina Pallary, 1898 * Helix mighelsiana L. Pfeiffer, 1847 * Helix miliaria Gredler, 1881 * Helix mimicula Heude, 1888 * Helix minutella J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix monodonta I. Lea, 1834 * Helix moquiniana Raymond, 1853 * Helix moretonensis Reeve, 1854 * Helix muscarum I. Lea, 1834 * Helix mystagoga J. Mabille, 1888 * Helix nautarum Heude, 1882 * Helix nicolai Klećak, 1880 (taxon inquirendum, use in more recent taxonomic literature currently undocumented) * Helix novare L. Pfeiffer, 1861 * Helix nystiana L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix oberndoerferi Kobelt, 1882 (taxon inquirendum, use in more recent taxonomic literature currently undocumented) * Helix obscura Deshayes, 1874 * Helix oleosa L. Pfeiffer, 1850 * Helix omissa L. Pfeiffer, 1856 * Helix onisterella J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix opaca Gmelin, 1791 * Helix ophelia Reeve, 1854 * Helix ovumreguli I. Lea, 1834 * Helix pansa Benson, 1856 * Helix pantheia J. Mabille, 1888 * Helix papillata L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix papillionacea Valenciennes, 1827 * Helix papyracea Broderip, 1841 * Helix paraeruginosa Heude, 1888 * Helix parasitarum Heude, 1885 * Helix parasitica Heude, 1885 * Helix paropta Mabille, 1886 (taxon inquirendum, no documented use in recent literature) * Helix paulinae Pallary, 1899 * Helix peguensis Benson, 1860 * Helix pemphigodes L. Pfeiffer, 1847 * Helix pena Cox, 1868 * Helix penicillata Gould, 1842 * Helix pennantiana L. Pfeiffer, 1845 * Helix perforata Deshayes, 1874 * Helix permellita Heude, 1890 * Helix phragmitum Heude, 1882 * Helix phyllophaga Heude, 1882 * Helix pilidion Benson, 1860 * Helix pilifera E. von Martens, 1869 * Helix piligera Gredler, 1885 * Helix plicatilis Deshayes, 1870 * Helix pliculosa L. Pfeiffer, 1857 * Helix portoricensis L. Pfeiffer, 1847 * Helix praelongata Pallary, 1898 * Helix praeruginosa Heude, 1888 * Helix probata Mabille, 1898 * Helix prshewalskii Martens, 1881 * Helix prunum Férussac, 1821 * Helix puberosula Heude, 1885 * Helix purpuragula I. Lea, 1834 * Helix puteolus Benson, 1853 * Helix pyantha J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix pyramidalis G. B. Sowerby I, 1841 (taxon inquirendum, use in recent literature currently undocumented) * Helix pyxis Hinds, 1845 * Helix quedenfeldti E. von Martens, 1890 * Helix quirosi Cox, 1873 * Helix radicicola Benson, 1859 * Helix radulella Heude, 1885 * Helix radulina Heude, 1888 * Helix rebellis Heude, 1885 * Helix reginae W. J. Broderip, 1841 * Helix renaltiana Heude, 1889 * Helix rerayana Pallary, 1899 * Helix rissoana L. Pfeiffer, 1847 * Helix rosacea G. B. Sowerby I, 1839 (taxon inquirendum, Invalid: junior homonym of Helix rosacea O. F. Müller, 1774) * Helix rostrata L. Pfeiffer, 1847 * Helix rupelli Deshayes, 1870 * Helix samara Heude, 1886 * Helix samarella Heude, 1888 * Helix sanata Heude, 1889 * Helix sansitus Cox, 1870 * Helix saturnia Gould, 1846 * Helix savignyana Ehrenberg, 1831 * Helix saxatilis Gould, 1846 (taxon inquirendum, not Hartmann, 1821) * Helix scenoma Benson, 1863 * Helix schweinfurthi E. von Martens, 1877 * Helix secundaria Heude, 1890 * Helix sedentaria Heude, 1885 * Helix seguiniana Heude, 1885 * Helix semicarinata Ancey, 1881 * Helix semifusca Deshayes, 1832 * Helix semigranosa G. B. Sowerby I, 1841 (taxon inquirendum, use in recent literature currently undocumented) * Helix semirugosa Pallary, 1899 * Helix sempriniana Heude, 1882 * Helix sireti Pallary, 1898 * Helix sororia Cox, 1870 * Helix specialis Bourguignat, 1881 * Helix spengleriana L. Pfeiffer, 1847 * Helix spirillus Gould, 1852 * Helix squalus Hinds, 1845 * Helix squamosella Heude, 1882 * Helix squamulosa Mousson, 1856 * Helix stauropolitana A. Schmidt, 1855 * Helix strucki Maltzan, 1886 (taxon inquirendum, use in recent literature currently undocumented) * Helix subcinctula Heude, 1890 * Helix subechinata Deshayes, 1870 * Helix subgranosa Le Guillou, 1842 * Helix subgriseola Heude, 1888 * Helix sublallementiana Pallary, 1899 * Helix subnivellina Bourguignat, 1883 * Helix subnuda J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix subparasitica Heude, 1888 * Helix suffulta Benson, 1853 * Helix sumatrana Martens, 1864 * Helix supracostata Kobelt, 1882 (taxon inquirendum, use in recent literature currently undocumented) * Helix taliensis Heude, 1890 * Helix talifouensis Heude, 1888 * Helix tarifensis Bourguignat in Servain, 1881 * Helix tarnieri Pallary, 1899 * Helix tenuis L. Pfeiffer, 1845 * Helix terrestris Forskål, 1775 * Helix tescorum Benson, 1853 * Helix theobryta J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix thibetica Deshayes, 1870 * Helix tickelli Theobald, 1859 * Helix tristrami L. Pfeiffer, 1860 * Helix tumida L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix turbinella Heude, 1890 * Helix tutuillae Cox, 1870 * Helix vannaelaeve Cox, 1870 * Helix variolosa L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix vatheleti J. Mabille, 1888 * Helix vesica I. Lea, 1834 * Helix vesica L. Pfeiffer, 1842 (taxon inquirendum, not Helix vesica I. Lea, 1834) * Helix vicinella Heude, 1890 * Helix vitiensis L. Pfeiffer, 1855 * Helix vitreola Heude, 1890 * Helix vivacula J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix vorticellina Heude, 1889 * Helix wanganensis Cox, 1870 * Helix welschi Pallary, 1899 * Helix woodiana I. Lea, 1834 * Helix yentaiensis Crosse & Debeaux * Helix yorkensis Reeve, 1854 * Helix zelina Cox, 1873 * Helix zeus L. Pfeiffer, 1843 * Helix zollingeri L. Pfeiffer, 1854 * Helix zonites L. Pfeiffer, 1846 * Helix zorica J. Mabille, 1889 * Helix zoroaster Theobald, 1859


Nomen dubium In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application. Zoology In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...

* Helix calomorpha Jonas, 1839 * Helix cornea Draparnaud, 1801 * Helix laevigata Linnaeus, 1767 accepted as Velutina laevigata (Linnaeus, 1767) (nomen dubium, original combination) * Helix minutialis Deshayes, 1851 * Helix multispirata Hombron & Jacquinot, 1852 * Helix oceanica Le Guillou, 1842 * Helix rotula Hombron & Jacquinot, 1852 (nomen dubium, invalid: junior homonym of Helix rotula Lowe, 1831; no replacement name available) * Helix rugosa L. Pfeiffer, 1843 * Helix undulata Gmelin, 1791 * Helix unispiralis Montagu, 1803


Nomen nudum In taxonomy, a ''nomen nudum'' ('naked name'; plural ''nomina nuda'') is a designation which looks exactly like a scientific name of an organism, and may have originally been intended to be one, but it has not been published with an adequate descr ...

Subgenus Helix (Pitys) H. Beck, 1837 * Helix (Pitys) oparana H. Beck, 1837 * Helix angulata Férussac, 1821 * Helix congellana Krauss in E. von Martens, 1860 * Helix exoptata Tate, 1882 * Helix globula Krynicki, 1838 * Helix ingrami Blanford, 1876 * Helix roseri F. Krauss in E. von Martens, 1860 * Helix roseri Krauss in E. von Martens, 1860 * Helix somersetii Prime, 1853 * Helix tingitana Beck, 1837


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Helix (Gastropod) Helicidae Gastropod genera Extant Oligocene first appearances