# Decollate Snail (*rumina decollata*) The Decollate Snail, Rumina decollata, is a fascinating and often misunderstood terrestrial gastropod known for its unique shell and predatory habits. Unlike most garden snails that are herbivores, the Decollate Snail is primarily a carnivore, making it a valuable ally in gardens by preying on other pest snails and slugs. Its distinctive 'decollated' shell, which appears to have had its tip broken off, is a natural part of its growth process and aids in identification. This species plays an important ecological role in controlling gastropod populations, though it can also become a minor pest to certain cultivated plants if other food sources are scarce. Its adaptability has allowed it to establish populations in various regions worldwide. - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Found in gardens, agricultural fields, vineyards, orchards, and other disturbed areas with well-drained soil and abundant leaf litter or ground cover. ![Decollate Snail](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/102414712/medium.jpg) Photo: RAP, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/102414712) ## Appearance The Decollate Snail has a distinctive conical shell, typically light brown to yellowish-brown, which can reach 2 to 5 cm in length. Its most striking feature is its 'decollated' apex; as the snail grows, the upper whorls of its shell are naturally shed, leaving a truncated, blunt tip. The body of the snail is grey to light brown, and it has two pairs of tentacles, with the upper, longer pair bearing eyes at their tips. The shell's surface is often glossy with fine growth lines. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Mollusca - **Class:** Gastropoda - **Order:** Stylommatophora - **Family:** Achatinidae - **Genus:** Rumina ## Interesting facts - Decollate Snails can survive long periods of drought or cold by burrowing deep into the soil and entering a dormant state known as aestivation or hibernation, sealing themselves with a mucous plug. - The Decollate Snail earns its name because the upper, older whorls of its shell naturally break off as it grows, leaving a blunt or 'decollated' apex. - They are hermaphroditic, meaning each individual possesses both male and female reproductive organs, capable of self-fertilization or mating with another snail. - Unlike most garden snails, which primarily eat plants, the Decollate Snail is a natural predator, primarily feasting on other snails and slugs, making it a 'good guy' in many gardens. ## Special abilities - **Gastropod Predator:** This snail actively hunts and preys on other species of snails and slugs, making it a natural biocontrol agent. It uses its radula to consume its prey, often entering the shells of smaller snails. - **Shell Decollation:** As the snail matures, the older, apical whorls of its shell naturally break off, giving it a distinctive blunt appearance. This process, known as decollation, helps it adapt to burrowing and possibly sheds parasitic burdens. - **Burrowing Adaptability:** Decollate Snails are capable burrowers, which allows them to seek refuge from heat, drought, and cold. They can aestivate (enter a dormant state during hot, dry periods) or hibernate in the soil, protecting them from adverse environmental conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 2-5 cm - **Weight:** 0.001-0.005 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-4 years - **Clutch Size:** 20-200 - **Incubation:** 10-40 days ## Diet & Feeding The Decollate Snail is primarily a carnivore, preying on other smaller snails and slugs. However, it is also an opportunistic omnivore, consuming decaying plant material and some live plants, especially when animal protein is scarce. - **Age differences:** Juvenile Decollate Snails initially consume more decaying plant matter and fungi, gradually shifting to a more carnivorous diet as they mature and grow larger. - **Primary Foods:** Garden snails (Helix aspersa), Slugs (Deroceras reticulatum), Snail eggs, Soft-bodied insects, Decaying plant matter - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Brown Garden Snail (*Cornu aspersum*) — Main food source, particularly smaller or juvenile individuals. - **Hunts:** Gray Field Slug (*Deroceras reticulatum*) — Another primary food source for the Decollate Snail, especially slug eggs and smaller individuals. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Predator that consumes snails, including Decollate Snails, when foraging in gardens. - **Competitor:** Common Pill Bug (*Armadillidium vulgare*) — Can be a competitor for resources like decaying plant matter, especially in areas with limited pest snail populations. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Decollate Snail? Compare body symmetry, shells, segments, legs, tentacles and how the animal moves. Invertebrates span many unrelated groups, so start with body structure. Invertebrate Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Decollate Snail? 2-5 cm ### How much does Decollate Snail weigh? 0.001-0.005 kg ### How long does Decollate Snail live? 2-4 years ### What does Decollate Snail eat? The Decollate Snail is primarily a carnivore, preying on other smaller snails and slugs. However, it is also an opportunistic omnivore, consuming decaying plant material and some live plants, especially when animal protein is scarce. ### Where is Decollate Snail usually found? Found in gardens, agricultural fields, vineyards, orchards, and other disturbed areas with well-drained soil and abundant leaf litter or ground cover. ### How does Decollate Snail hunt? Foraging ### How many eggs does Decollate Snail lay? 20-200 ## Where to spot - [San Antonio Missions National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-missions-national-historical-park) — Texas, US · National Park ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Decollate Snail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/decollate-snail)