| Cernuella | |
|---|---|
| Cernuella virgata aestivating on a fence in Provence. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Eupulmonata clade Stylommatophora informal group Sigmurethra |
| Superfamily: | Helicoidea |
| Family: | Hygromiidae |
| Genus: | Cernuella Schlüter, 1838[1] |
Cernuella is a genus of small air-breathing land snails, pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Hygromiidae, the hairy snails and their allies. The native range of the genus is primarily Mediterranean.
Some species such as Cernuella virgata have become significant invasive species, agricultural pests, in parts of Australia.[2]
This same species of the genus has been recovered in archaeological excavations from the Roman Empire occupation of Volubilis, an ancient habitation site in present day Morocco.[3]
Cernuella snails create and use love darts as part of their courtship and mating behavior.
Species within the genus Cernuella include: