Helix pomatia, common names the Roman snail, Burgundy snail, or escargot, is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod terrestrial mollusc in the family Helicidae. It is one of Europe's biggest species of land snail. Distribution Distribution of H. pomatia includes: Southeastern and Central Europe: Germany – listed as a specially protected species in annex 1 of the Bundesartenschutzverordnung. Austria Czech Republic – least concern species (LC): Its conservation status in 2004–2006 is favourable (FV) in the report for the European Commission in accordance with the Habitats Directive. Poland Slovakia Hungary Romania In southwestern Bulgaria up to an altitude more than 1600 m. Northern and central Balkans Slovenia Croatia Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia North Macedonia Western Europe: Great Britain: in the west and south of England in southern areas on chalk soils. Its common name in the UK is "Roman snail" because it was introduced to the island by the Romans during the Roman period (AD 43–410). In England only (not the rest of the UK), the Roman snail is a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to kill, injure, collect or sell these snails. Central France Belgium Netherlands Switzerland Northern Europe: Denmark – Listed as a protected species. Southern Sweden Norway Finland In central and southern parts of Sweden, Norway and Finland, isolated and relatively small populations occur. It is not native to these countries, but is likely to have been imported by monks from Southern Europe during medieval times. Latvia Lithuania Estonia Eastern Europe: Belarus (western regions) Ukraine Moldavia Russia: introduced to Moscow, Kursk Southern Europe: Italy (northern regions) Portugal Greece Spain (eastern and north-eastern regions). Description The shell is creamy white to light brownish, often with indistinct brown colour bands. The shell has five to six whorls. The aperture is large. The apertural margin is white and slightly reflected in adult snails. The umbilicus is narrow and partly covered by the reflected columellar margin. The width of the shell is . The height of the shell is . Ecology Habitat In southeastern Europe, H. pomatia lives in forests, open habitats, gardens, and vineyards, especially along rivers, confined to calcareous substrate. In Central Europe, it occurs in open forests and shrubland on calcareous substrate. It prefers high humidity and lower temperatures, and needs loose soil for burrowing to hibernate and lay its eggs. It lives up to 2100