International Land Snail Day

From pearly to hairy, Norfolk Island snails are out of this world

When many of us think of snails, the invasive species that chews holes in our spinach is probably what springs to mind first, but Australia has an incredibly diverse range of native gastropods that we rarely get to see.

There are thought to be at least 2500 different species of land snails in Australia, and up to 35,000 species worldwide.

Despite covering just 35 square km, Norfolk Island is a global hot spot for land snail diversity, with 60 endemic species that are found nowhere else on earth – and some really are quite weird and wonderful.

To celebrate International Land Snail Day on 7 November, we asked Norfolk Island National Park ranger and local snail man, Sam Burridge to share some of his favourite local species.