About Polymita picta (Born, 1778)
Polymita picta, also known as the painted snail, has shells that can reach a length of approximately 20 millimeters, or 0.79 inches. These are large, shiny shells that are very brightly colored. Most individuals have a bright yellow shell with a white stripe, but the species is well-known for its colorful shell polymorphism, meaning it has numerous different color varieties. Shell color variation in this species is linked to the snail's diet. Some researchers suspect this polymorphism acts as a defense mechanism that confuses predators to help the snails evade them.
This species of snail is endemic to Cuba. It is distributed across eastern Cuba, and is especially found in Alexander von Humboldt National Park, which spans from the mountains to the northeastern coast of the island. These arboreal molluscs live primarily in coastal subtropical forest habitats, and prefer to inhabit specific tree species: Chrysobalanus icaco, Metopium toxiferum, Metopium brownei, Bursera simaruba, and Coccoloba retusa.
