I spotted a land snail on my deck and moved it to a nearby tree limb for safety. Once there, it surprised me by sliding upside down along the limb. That gave me a great photo opportunity.
Land snails are common around my place near the Ouachita National Forest. They feed on decaying plant matter and lay eggs in the soil. The area is full of rotting logs and leaf litter, which makes a perfect home for them.
For this photo, I used a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens. I shot handheld.
Camera Settings:
- Mode: AV (Aperture Priority)
- Aperture: f/10
- ISO: 800
- Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec
- Focal Length: 400mm
Land snails are slow, but they play an important role in Arkansas’ ecosystem. Several species live in the state, each with its own traits.
Here are some common ones you might find in Arkansas:
- Polygyra barberi (Flat-coiled snail)
- Helisoma trivolvis (Yellow Pond snail)
- Gastrocopta armifera (Armiger Snaggletooth snail)
- Triodopsis fallax (False Triodopsis snail)
- Allogona ptychophora (Ptychophora snail)
- Succinea indiana (Indiana Ambersnail)
- Punctum minutissimum (Minute Dot snail)
Note: Common names can vary by region and aren’t always widely used.
Even something as simple as a snail can make for a fun photo and a chance to learn something new about the life around us.