I’ve been meaning to share this Amber Snail photo since last summer. Today’s as good a day as any, so here it is. Pretty sure it’s an Amber Snail—though I could be wrong.
Close up Amber Snail at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge – Canon R7, f8, 1/3200, ISO 800, -0.7 V, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500m, natural light
Last year, Steve Creek and I were walking one of the side roads at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge when we came across this snail on a Johnson Grass stalk.
It was breezy that day, so we took turns holding the stalk steady for each other while we photographed the snail. That worked out well.
I don’t photograph many snails—or slugs, for that matter—but I do find them interesting subjects.
This is what my research taught me about Amber Snails:
There are roughly twenty species of Amber Snails in the eastern United States. The snails are considered terrestrial but have close ties to watery environments, such as stream banks, ponds, lakes, and marshes. They do not live in water but may live on plants in these areas.
Amber snails are hermaphrodites; they start as males and transition to females as they age. Self-fertilization can occur during adolescence. They lay transparent eggs in batches on stones, soil, or plants, which hatch in about two weeks. Amber Snails mature in approximately one year.¹
One of the problems I have with snails is identification. I’m very good at bird IDs, same with animals. I do well with plants and insects too.
Snails? Not so much.
So, if you know the species identification of this Amber Snail, feel free to let me know. I’d appreciate it, deeply. I love to learn.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my aquatic life photos.
Interesting shot and commentary. Thanks Mia.
I love this delicate little snail, reminds me of a Rembrandt painting he did with a shell or ..snail. Obviously he found them uniquely beautiful.