Otala lactea

Otala lactea,common names, the milk snail, or Spanish snail, is a large, edible species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae the typical snails. Archaeological recovery at the Volubilis illustrates prehistoric exploitation of O. lactea by humans.

Synonyms include Helix lactea and Iberus alonensis.

Distribution

This species of snail is native to Europe and parts of North Africa. It has been introduced to the USA, including Arizona and Florida, and to Bermuda, Cuba, southeastern Australia.

Anatomy

This snail creates and uses love darts as part of its courtship behaviour, prior to mating.

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