Author ist Ted von Proschwitz:
Helix pomatia Linnaeus
A very large specimen of the species was found in the park at the manor Värmlands Säby (parish Visnum, province of Värmland). Contrary to most land snail species, the age of specimens of H. pomatia can be determined rather easily if the number of winter-lines (the marked growth interruptions in the shell before it reaches adult size) is added to the number of the calluses which are added to the mouth in the adult specimen every year as the winter epiphragma is formed. The specimen from Värmlands Säby showed to have the noteworthy age of 22 years. The oldest known specimen of H. pomatia is in fact a Swedish one which reached the age of >35 years (Lundqvist 1966). Specimens of that high age are probably rare. In Swedish populations, observed by me, most specimens were 5-8 years, sometimes a few reached the age of 10-12 years.
The following information was obtained from the owner of Värmlands Säby, Baron H. Falkenberg: The species was probably introduced in the manor park in the 18th century, but later became extinct there. A secondary population survived at the close lying estate Carlslund (the species is still abundant there). A re-introduction to the manor park took place late in the 20th century, and the species is today not uncommon around the manor buildings.
H. pomatia was introduced by man in Sweden and is a species of great interest also in the view of cultural history. The oldest introductions probably took place already in the medieval period, in connection to the abbeys. The Catholic Church regards H. pomatia as fish and it can therefore be eaten during Lent. Later introductions took place in the 17th and 18th centuries in connection to castles and manors, as the Swedish nobility and officers had come in contact with the custom to eat the species. As H. pomatia prefers a continental climate and is rather lime requiring, it often has difficulties to establish itself in western Sweden, which is precipitation rich and dominated by acid soils. Hence, the majority of the Swedish occurrencies are situated in the south (province of Skåne) and in the east (mainly the area around Lake Mälaren).