Cepaea Vindobonensis

''Caucasotachea vindobonensis'' is a species of medium-sized air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod in the family Helicidae.

The scientific name is derived from the Celtic settlement Vindobona, now known as Vienna, the capital of Austria. This species was assigned to the genus '' Cepaea'' for a long time. However, molecular biologist research showed, that this species is not closely related to ''Cepaea'', but belongs instead to the genus ''Caucasotachea''.

Description

The right-coiled, globular shell of ''C. vindobonensis'' is about 17–21 mm high and 20–25 mm broad with 5,5-6 whorls. The umbilicus is completely covered in adult specimens. The lip is always red-brown at the inner and outer side with a fine white stripe at its margin. This specific lip coloration allows to separate it from the conchological similar '' Cepaea hortensis'' (pure white lip) and '' Cepaea nemoralis'' (consistent dark brown lip), with which ''C. vindobonensis'' often co-occurs. The shell is whitish or yellowish, with about 5 brown stripes, the upper two are usually weak. The lowermost stripe is quite near to the covered umbilicus. There is a slight variation of shell colour within this species (see below). The animal itself is yellowish with grey tentacles.

Examples of variation in shell colour of ''C. vindobonensis'':

File:Cepaea_vindobonensis_01.JPG
File:Cepaea_vindobonensis_02.JPG
File:Cepaea_vindobonensis_03.JPG

Distribution and habitat

The distribution of this species is Pontic, Pannonian and Balkanian.
It occurs in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic (near threatened (NT) Its westernmost, but non-indigenous, record is from Western Bohemia.), Germany ( reintroduced), Greece), Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia (Rostov Oblast, Stavropol Krai, Krasnodar Krai, Moscow Region - non-indigenous distributionEgorov R. (2014). "The first record of ''Cepaea vindobonensis'' (Pfeiffer, 1828) (Stylommatophora: Helicidae) in the central part of European Russia". ''Malacologica Bohemoslovaca'' 13: 110-113
PDF
) and Ukraine. In 2021, introduced populations in the United States (New York State) and Canada (Quebec) were reported.Hausdorf, B., Parr, M., Shappell, L. J., Oldeland, J., Robinson, D. G. (2021) The introduction of the European ''Caucasotachea vindobonensis'' (Gastropoda: Helicidae) in North America, its origin and its potential range. ''Biological Invasions'
PDF

The original habitat of ''C. vindobonensis'' was most probably open forests in the Balkans, from where it spread over large parts of Central and Eastern Europe after the last glaciation. Nevertheless, it also dwells in several grassland habitats like meadows, steppe and ruderal areas, especially in the north of its distribution area. The highest vertical occurrence is about 1600 m asl in Southern Bulgaria.

Life cycle

All the following information originates from a Greek study.
Because Greece is in the southernmost part of the distribution area, the phenology for this species might be quite different in the more northerly countries where it is found. According to the Greek study, ''C. vindobonensis'' becomes mature after its second year, and can reach a maximum life span of about 7 years. The reproductive period in Greece lasts from April to June, with a maximum in May. About 29-67 eggs are laid, having a diameter of about 3 mm, and the juveniles hatch out after 18 days. During hot summer days, these snails rest attached to leaves or the stems of tall plants. Hibernation commences at the end of October to the beginning of November, and the snails come out of hibernation in March.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q898580

Helicidae
Gastropods described in 1828