About Hedleyella falconeri (J.E.Gray, 1834)
Hedleyella falconeri has a helicoid (spiral) shell that grows to a diameter of approximately 90mm (3.5 inches). The shell is some shade of brown, marked with irregular black bands and splotches arranged radially. When this snail is inactive, it retracts its head and foot into the shell; these body parts are extended when the animal moves and feeds. The upper surface of the head and foot has a grey reticulate pattern, and the foot is edged with orange. The head has two pairs of retractable, dark-colored tentacles: the upper pair, which has eyes at its tips, is twice as long as the lower pair. A dark line runs from between the tentacles along the nape of the neck. In terms of distribution and habitat, Hedleyella falconeri occurs in subtropical eastern Australia, ranging from Smiths Lake in New South Wales to just north of Brisbane. The Great Dividing Range forms its western distribution limit. This species lives on the forest floor among leaf litter and mossy logs, and has never been observed climbing trees to heights greater than 0.5 metres (1 foot 8 inches).
