Close-ups of Maltese nature (46)

The edible snail (għakrux raġel) is a very common sight on our islands, especially after it rains. This familiar mollusc may be found almost everywhere: in our gardens, arable land, rocky places and rubble walls.

The edible snail, known scientifically as Cantareus aspersus is a large land snail, bearing a hard whorled shell with a 40mm diameter. This armour, which may vary in colour, has spiral dark brown bands, which are interrupted by yellowish streaks. From this protective case, the greyish-brown snail with its soft slimy body emerges. Its head bears two pairs of tentacles, which can be retractable. The upper pair bears eye-like sensors at the tip, while the smaller lower tentacles are used, both for smell and to discern the ground in front. Beneath the tentacles is the mouth, with a rasping “tongue” used for cutting or scrapping food.

The edible snail is a herbivore – it feeds on the leaves of a wide variety of plants, including many fruit trees, vegetable crops and garden flowers and so, is considered a common garden/agricultural pest..

Due to their moist skin, when the temperatures become too hot, the edible snail retreats into its shell and covers the opening with a thin membrane of dried mucus. When sealed like this, the mollusc can survive several months without water. Alternatively, the snail adjusts to the heat by moving to areas which are damp and moist.

This snail, as hinted by its common name, is also an edible delicacy and it is used in a number of European cuisines, including the Maltese cuisine.

Of importance though, is that one should not dismantle rubble walls while collecting these creatures, as these walls are an important and protected habitat… Interestingly, nowadays, fluid collected from these snails is being used for the making of moisturising skin products.

More information may be obtained by e-mail: nature.requests@mepa.org.mt.

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. Malta, together with many other countries around the globe, is carrying out a number of initiatives to celebrate life on earth and the value of biodiversity for our lives. We are all invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: Biodiversity.