Snail Varieties

Asia and Pacific Islands

• Although the Quantula striata species of snail native to the southern Malay Peninsula may look like an ordinary snail with a plain brown shell and white underside, it has the ability to produce bioluminescence thanks to a special organ in its head. According to the World of Snails website, the yellow-green light helps juvenile snails find each other. The Papustyla pulcherrima species of Papua New Guinea has a bright emerald green conical shell. Also known as the green tree snail, P. Pulcherrima is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora due to its harvesting for use as jewelry.

Europe

• There are two main eating varieties of snail in Europe: the Helix aspersa, or common garden snail, and the Helix pomatia, or Roman or Burgundy snail. According to the Times Online's website, commercial snail-growers tend to breed the larger Helix aspersa maxima, also known as gros-gris. Nonedible species of European snail include the Helix aperta, with its brown or yellow shell, the Cepaea vindobonensis, with its conical striped shell, and Pseudotachea splendid, with its circular cream and brown whorled shell.

Americas

• Megalobulimus oblongus, also known as Strophocheilus oblongus, is a form of giant snail that originates in Brazil and Venezuela and can live for up to 14 years, says the Pet Snails website. Other giant snails from South America can cause problems when introduced into the United States, according to the PhysOrg website. The site reports Floridian officials' concerns that South American channeled apple snails would endanger water quality and threaten native species with their voracious appetites. Pomacea canaliculata, to give them their proper name, were once considered to be a delicacy in the Philippines, Hawaii and Taiwan.

Africa

• The shortage of edible snails in countries such as France means that species such as the East African land snail, Achatina fulica, and the West African land snail, Achatina marginata, are used instead. According to the Times Online, these snails are so big that only the juveniles are tinned and exported. The Telegraph website says that the Achatina achatina species, also known as the giant tiger land snail or giant Ghana snail, is the largest known land gastropod. The largest recorded specimen weighed 2 lbs and measured 15.5 inches. The Lingus intertinctus snail lives in the trees of Liberia and the Ivory Coast and is most notable for its stretchy body that allows it to reach between branches.