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Glite Dictionary
Helicidae

Helicidae

9.9
A group of land snails including the common edible garden snail
  • noun
  • Specialized
: Helicidae
  • The Helicidae include the well-known edible garden snail used in French cuisine.

Examples

  • Some species within Helicidae can become agricultural pests due to their feeding habits.

  • Members of the Helicidae family are commonly found in gardens throughout Europe.

  • The Helicidae family includes many varieties of snails.

  • Many gardeners are concerned about Helicidae damaging their plants.

  • The Helicidae family includes several species that can be deliciously prepared as food.

  • Some members of Helicidae can easily overpopulate and damage crop yields.

  • The common garden snail is a prominent representative of the Helicidae family found in many backyards.

Surface Forms

Helicidae singular
Helicidaes plural

Morphology

Helicidae = helix (opaque) = helix + idae

The suffix '-idae' is a specialist taxonomic ending indicating a biological family; this formation is not predictable for general learners even if they know 'helix'.

Etymology

The word Helicidae comes from the Greek root helix meaning 'spiral' and the ending -idae, which is used for animal families. You can spot the same root in helicopter, which helps you remember the idea of turning or coiling. So, Helicidae is the 'spiral' family — the group of land snails with coiled shells.