Where the facts come from
Every factual claim on this site links to its source. This is the full list, and every place where the sources disagree.
How we checked
Each fact was written alongside its source. Our build script stores the source text and, for every fact, checks that the key words and figures really appear in it. 126 of 126 checks passed when this site was last built. All sources were read on 30 Oct 2026. Facts that can change (species counts and records) carry “checked 30 Oct 2026” next to their source link.
Main sources: the Natural History Museum, London, the Royal Horticultural Society, The Wildlife Trusts, the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, a paper in the Journal of Conchology, Manx Wildlife Trust, the Australian Museum, the University of Florida and Britannica (its main article text only).
When sources disagree
Where trusted sources give different figures, we don’t pick one: we show them all, each with its source.
How many kinds of snail and slug live in the UK?
- The Natural History Museum says the UK has 100 species of land snail and 46 species of land slug. Natural History Museum, London: For the love of snails and slugs · checked 30 Oct 2026
- The RHS says there are over 44 species of slug and 90 species of snail in the UK. Royal Horticultural Society: Slugs and snails · checked 30 Oct 2026
- The Wildlife Trusts say there are around 150 species of slugs and snails in the UK. The Wildlife Trusts, 14 March 2024: The Wildlife Trusts and RHS ask gardeners to make friends with molluscs · checked 30 Oct 2026
Three trusted sources, three different figures. The sources don’t explain the difference, so we show all three.
All sources (20)
- Alexander & Dubbeldam 2013, A survey of ancient woodland indicator molluscs in selected sites on the Isle of Man, Journal of Conchology 41(3) (6 facts)
- Australian Museum: Garden snail (1 fact)
- Australian Museum: Leopard slug (3 facts)
- Australian Museum: Snails and slugs (2 facts)
- Britannica: Gastropod (9 facts)
- Britannica: How fast are snails? (3 facts)
- Britannica: Slug (1 fact)
- Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland: Identifying common British snails, Garden snail (2 facts)
- Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland: Tandonia budapestensis (1 fact)
- Dekle & Fasulo, Brown garden snail, University of Florida IFAS Featured Creatures (EENY240) (5 facts)
- Manx Wildlife Trust: Ellan Vannin Invertebrate Group field report, Government House grounds, Onchan, 19 October 2024 (2 facts)
- Natural History Museum, London: For the love of snails and slugs (29 facts)
- Natural History Museum, London: Slime Search (with the Conchological Society) (17 facts)
- Royal Horticultural Society: 10 fun facts about slugs (7 March 2024) (13 facts)
- Royal Horticultural Society: Slugs and snails (6 facts)
- Royal Horticultural Society: Who’s who in slugs (10 facts)
- The Wildlife Trusts, 14 March 2024: The Wildlife Trusts and RHS ask gardeners to make friends with molluscs (5 facts)
- The Wildlife Trusts: Brown-lipped snail (5 facts)
- The Wildlife Trusts: White-lipped snail (3 facts)
- The Wildlife Trusts: Yellow slug (3 facts)