It is not often we spare a thought for the humble snail but they play a vital role in recycling nutrients and keeping our bushland healthy. We are lucky to have over a dozen native species including the bizarre Carnivorous Snail and our very own Blue Mountains Land Snail.

We are all familiar with the introduced Garden Snail (Cantareus aspersa) so it’s heartening to know that none of the local native snails will eat your vegies. Instead they are fascinating native creatures which do us and our bushland a service.

Common Garden Snail C Peter Ridgeway

The most remarkable of our local snails is the Southern Carnivorous Snail (Austrorhytida capillacea). It is easy to identify by its curious flattened shell. As the name suggests this species feeds on other snails which it tracks down by their slime trails. Thankfully it has a particular appetite for garden snails so it can be the gardener’s friend. It is found in most parts of the Blue Mountains and will move into gardens as long as there is good shelter and no pesticides. So it’s one more reason to put native habitat back to your garden.

Austrorhytida capillacea c Peter Ridgeway

The Blue Mountains has the particular honour of being home to the Blue Mountains Land Snail (Pommerhelix monacha). This is a relative of the endangered Cumberland Plain Land Snail. We know very little about this species. It appears to be moderately common in damper areas including the edges of hanging swamps.

Pommerhelix duralensis c Peter Ridgeway

The Blue Mountains Land Snail is joined in the lower Blue Mountains by the ‘Dural Land Snail’ (Pommerhelix duralensis) which is restricted to shale-sandstone transition forest and Blue Mountains Shale Cap forest. This species is in decline and is under review for listing as an endangered species.

Pommerhelix monacha c Peter Ridgeway

Next time you come across an empty shell give a second thought. Our native snails have a tough existence but there is more to them than meets the eye!

Article by Peter Ridgeway