Decollate Snail
Rumina decollata
The Rumina decollata (Decollate Snail). It is an absolutely unique terrestrial snail, famous for two extraordinary characteristics that make it a very particular entity in malacological terrariums and a formidable agricultural ally: it is a ruthless carnivorous predator of other snails (and their eggs), and possesses a very particular 'decapitated' cylindrical shell. As it grows, in fact, the tip of the shell (apex) calcifies internally and then detaches cleanly (literally falling off), leaving the adult snail with a bizarre 'tube' shaped shell truncated at the rear end. An autochthonous and Mediterranean species, it is tiny (up to 1.5 inches), very resistant, a lover of the temperate climate and summer drought (goes into heavy aestivation). In the terrarium, or introduced in infested gardens, it acts as an inexorable ecological killer exterminating the infesting salad-eating snails (helix, slugs), almost completely ignoring healthy vegetables.
Environnement
Terrestre
Humidité
40 - 75 %
Température ambiante
20 °C
Température diurne
22 - 26 °C
Température nocturne
18 - 20 °C
Profondeur du substrat
>= 8 cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographic Origin and Habitat: UF/IFAS identifies Rumina decollata as native to the Mediterranean area and widely introduced in the United States, Bermuda, and Mexico. The source describes it as ground-dwelling among leaves and sometimes burrowing in the upper one inch of soil.
Taxonomy and Genetics: UF/IFAS identifies Rumina decollata (Linnaeus 1758) as a decollate snail in the family Subulinidae. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond the cited facts above.
Behaviour and Habits: The source describes ground-dwelling individuals that live among leaves and sometimes burrow in the upper one inch of soil.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: UF/IFAS reports an adult shell up to 45 mm high, 14 mm in diameter, with four to seven retained whorls and pinkish-brown colour. This recovery makes no sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts above.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Terrarium Setup: UC IPM describes the spiralling shell of Rumina decollata as pinkish brown, elongated and tapered toward the rear. This is natural-history identification, not captive setup guidance.
Lighting and Heating: This recovery does not formulate a datum on lighting or heating beyond the facts cited above.
Humidity and Hydration: This recovery does not formulate a datum on humidity or hydration beyond the facts cited above.
Feeding and Supplementation: UC IPM lists various snail and slug species, especially brown garden snail, as hosts or prey. This is documented natural predator-prey information, not a captive feeding or supplementation protocol.
Compatibility and Coexistence: The documented predator-prey fact is natural history and is not a compatibility or cohabitation recommendation.
Health and Common Diseases: This recovery does not formulate a datum on health or common diseases beyond the facts cited above.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Cette espèce provient de : Bacino del Mediterraneo (Giardini temperati, macchia mediterranea arida, pietraie assolate e zone urbane dal Portogallo all'Italia e Nord Africa).
Origine
Cosmopolite ou introduitAmérique centrale et CaraïbesAmérique du NordAfrique et MadagascarEurope, Méditerranée et Asie occidentale
Profil d'invertébré terrestre
- Régime alimentaire
- Carnivore
- Predatory snails, they feed primarily on other smaller snails, slugs, and their eggs. They will also consume decaying plant matter and some soft-leaved plants. In captivity, they can be offered a diet of feeder snails, vegetables, and commercial snail food supplemented with calcium.
- Taille adulte
- 4.5 cm
- Mode de vie/microhabitat
- Terrestrial
- Terrestrial and fossorial, spending significant time buried or hidden under debris. They thrive in damp, temperate to subtropical environments with plenty of hiding spots. Their truncated shell helps them navigate through soil and leaf litter.
- Cycle d'activité
- Nocturnal
- They are predominantly nocturnal, becoming active at night to forage for food. During the day, they remain hidden in moist, dark places. High humidity or rainy conditions can also trigger daytime activity.
- Sociabilité
- Gregarious
- They can be housed together, but their highly carnivorous nature requires caution. While they generally prefer hunting other snail species, severe overcrowding or a significant lack of adequate protein in their diet can potentially lead to cannibalism of smaller or weaker conspecifics. Providing ample space, hiding spots, and abundant food minimizes this risk.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are simultaneous hermaphrodites and can self-fertilize if isolated, laying small clutches of calcareous eggs in moist soil. The eggs typically hatch within a few weeks, depending on temperature and humidity. Hatchlings are small but fully formed and independent.
- Venimeux
- No
- Tolérance aux manipulations
- Tolerant
- Handling should be minimal and gentle, as their shells can be fragile. Always ensure your hands are clean and moist before touching them to avoid damaging their slime coat. Wash hands thoroughly after handling to prevent the spread of any potential pathogens.
- Brumation
- In colder months or during dry periods, they may enter a state of dormancy or aestivation, sealing their shell opening with an epiphragm. They will remain inactive until conditions become favorable again. Provide a stable environment to avoid forced dormancy in captivity.
- Mue
- Regular
- Snails do not molt like reptiles or arthropods; instead, their shell grows continuously from the mantle. They require a constant source of calcium, such as cuttlebone, to maintain healthy and strong shell growth. Any damage to the shell edge can often be repaired by the snail over time.
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