COMMON NAME: Pacific Sideband

GENUS: Monadenia

SPECIES: fidelis

FAMILY: I’ve seen this family called three different names (from various reputable sources); though it is not uncommon for family names to change over time! However, it can be frustrating when you have to learn how to spell all the Latin and botanical names! On the e-Fauna BC site it is currently registered as: Monadeniidae

ORDER: Stylommatophora

ORIGIN: Native

HABITAT: Jay sometimes gets lucky enough to spot these large snails in our forest. In fact, he has found them quite high up on large trees and on the grass. Pacific sideband snails are naturally found in forests and in meadows and even on the seashore. The snails are able to climb to great heights; almost one hundred years ago one was found 22 feet up on a tree.

IDENTIFICATION: The Pacific sideband snail is quite large, in fact it is the largest snail found in BC. This snail is especially large compared to a typical common snail that a gardener can’t stand to find on their lettuce. But, unlike those pesky snails, you don’t want to remove or kill the Pacific sideband snail if you see one in the forest! Move it if you need to, but please do NOT kill this native species. Pacific sideband snails are a part of our forest ecosystem and are quite a pretty rosy-brown colour.

BC SPECIES LIST: The Pacific sideband snail is on the yellow list, which means it is not at risk of extinction. HOWEVER, it was blue listed not long ago, which meant that it was of concern. We do NOT regularly see them ourselves.

INTERESTING FACTS: These snails produce “love darts” which are projectiles used during courting. (I dare you to look that one up on YouTube!)

The snails love to eat sword ferns, fungi and lichen which are all plentiful in the forest.

REFERENCES:

E-FAUNA BC

South Coast Conservation Program

Becky

Becky is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Landscape & Production Horticulturist, Arborist and budding Herbalist, who recognizes and specializes in the link between healthy soil, the gut and the brain. She also loves being the mom to her two wild and crazy kids Brooke & Connor whom keep her and her ever loving, creative husband Jay on their toes.