# Pacific Sideband (*Monadenia fidelis*) The Pacific Sideband is a colorful snail that lives in damp places. It has a beautiful shell with stripes and loves to munch on leaves and plants. - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 20 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Pacific Sideband](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Monadenia_fidelis_15008.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monadenia_fidelis_15008.JPG) ## Appearance The Pacific Sideband is a large, colorful land snail with a shell typically ranging from yellow to dark brown, often featuring a distinct reddish-brown band along its outer edge. Its soft body is usually dark grey to black, contrasting with the vibrant, often glossy shell. Unlike many common snails, its shell is particularly striking in its varied coloration. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Mollusca - **Class:** Gastropoda - **Order:** Stylommatophora - **Family:** Xanthonychidae - **Genus:** Monadenia ## Interesting facts - It builds its shell from calcium it finds in the dirt and rocks! - Its incredible slime trail helps it stick to surfaces, even upside down! - The Pacific Sideband's shell color and band can change based on its diet! - This snail can live for several years, slowly exploring its forest home. ## Special abilities - **Sticky Trail Maker:** Pacific Sideband can glide across rough surfaces because it secretes a slimy mucus trail that helps it move and stay hydrated. - **Shell Fortress:** Pacific Sideband has a sturdy, spiral shell that helps it hide from predators and protect its soft body from damage. - **Seasonal Sleeper:** Pacific Sideband can survive dry periods by retreating into its shell and sealing the opening, waiting for wetter conditions. - **Calcium Craver:** Pacific Sideband can build and repair its strong shell because it extracts calcium from the soil and its diet. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 25-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 1095-1825 days - **Leg Count:** 0 ## Diet & Feeding This snail enjoys munching on decaying plants and fungi, helping to recycle nutrients! - **Primary Foods:** decaying leaves, rotting wood, fungi, algae, moss, lichens - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Rodents crack open snail shells for a meal. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Birds often smash snail shells on rocks to eat them. - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Snakes are known to prey on slow-moving snails. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be gentle if you see a snail, and don't pick it up unless you have permission! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pacific Sideband? 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 big is Pacific Sideband? 25-45 mm ### How long does Pacific Sideband live? 1095-1825 days ### What does Pacific Sideband eat? This snail enjoys munching on decaying plants and fungi, helping to recycle nutrients! ### Where is Pacific Sideband usually found? Forests ### How does Pacific Sideband hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Pacific Sideband have? 0 ## Where to spot - [Tantalus Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tantalus-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Capitol State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-state-forest) — Washington, US · Forest - [Cascades Raptor Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cascades-raptor-center) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [Fort Hoskins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-hoskins) — Oregon, US · Park - [Glines Canyon Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glines-canyon-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [International Rose Test Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/international-rose-test-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Pacific Sideband](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pacific-sideband) ## 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: [Pacific Sideband: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-sideband)