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 pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the typical snails. This species is native to the Mediterranean region, but it has become an invasive species in many other countries. Theba pisana is a well-known agricultural pest in numerous parts of the world. The shell color varies from white to yellow-brown with light brown spiral markings. The species is native to the Mediterranean region. The type locality is Italy. The distribution of Theba pisana includes the Mediterranean region and adjacent Atlantic coasts from central Morocco to north western Europe: Morocco Portugal In Spain occasionally also in the interior. It is introduced to Menorca. - A subspecies, Theba pisana arietina, from coastal habitats in Spain and Portugal, is on the Red List as Endangered. Italy Malta Greece Israel Egypt Belgium central Atlantic islands The species has been introduced to numerous other areas, including: southwestern England and south Wales, Great Britain: - introduced since at least the 1700s eastern and southern Ireland - introduced since at least the 1700s and it is still spreading along frost-free coastal localities. Netherlands - non-indigenous the United States in California parts of Africa Asia southeastern Australia, southwestern Australia and Tasmania South Africa - It was introduced into South Africa prior to 1881. It has invaded the fynbos biome in South Africa. Given the very high densities that Theba pisana can attain at some sites, plus their apparently not particular feeding habits, their potential impact on the vegetation is cause for concern and should be further investigated. In many of these places T. pisana has become a problematic invasive species and a serious agricultural pest.