Otala lactea and O. punctata are the two Otala species living in European western Mediterranean. They have similar shells and reproductive systems, and are not always easy to differentiate. According to Schmidt (1855) (in Puente, 1994) the peristome and aperture of O. lactea have a more intense and extended black colouration than in O. punctata; this is the only shell feature useful to distinguish them. Prieto (1986) added another character that can help to identify both species, but probably not always (i.e. O. lactea has a smaller size, a more reflected peristome and a more developed columelar edge tooth). At the level of the reproductive system, O. lactea shows a longer comparative length of flagellum in comparison with penis-epiphallus complex and also a longer free oviduct than O. punctata, which could help differentiating them (Prieto 1986, Arrébola 1995).

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

This is an abundant and widely distributed species that is well adapted to the pressures related to human activities. It is listed as Least Concern (LC) at the European and EU 27 levels. However, the long-term uncontrolled over-harvesting appears to be impacting the populations and reducing its presence in the wild. Due to the increasing demand of the food markets for this animal,  it is important to establish sustainable management plans that include monitoring of populations and their habitats to ensure that this species remains Least Concern in the future, as well as an important economic and natural resource for the citizens.

This is a Western Mediterranean species that is found in the south of France, the eastern half of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia and the north of Africa (Puente 1994). Due to its popularity as a food source it has been introduced to many areas.

There are no population data available for this species. However, based on general observations, the species appears to be found in great numbers and high densities.

O. punctata lives in dunes, Mediterranean forests, moorlands and areas of lowland forest. It is well adapted to human-modified habitats.

The main threat against O. punctata is the unregulated over-harvesting as a long-standing tradition, causing important impact on the population. Other threats are the increase in agriculture, habitat degradation and fires.

Otala punctata is one of the most eaten snails in the eastern part of the Peninsula (provinces of Almería, Murcia, Valencia, Alicante, Castellón...). It is part of a large number of food recipes. There is a long tradition in both the harvesting and consumption of O. punctata.

O. punctata represents a true traditional, natural and economic resource to rural populations, and its demand is growing year after year. Unfortunately, the impact caused by uncontrolled and excessive harvesting, accumulated over a long period, as well as other pressures related to human activities, have led to a reduction of the snail’s population, according to the people that used to harvest them. In our opinion, it is urgent to manage this species like the natural and economic resource that it represents, by establishing appropriate periods and catch sizes, investigating the aspects of the species and its population that are still unknown and promoting the heliciculture. Knowing the personal motivations, politic and social context and the local interest in relation with the species would be useful in order to raise awareness and to involve citizens and public authorities in the management of this resource (Reynolds, Mace, Redford and Robinson 2001)