These particular snails are known as ‘tal-Lhudija’ in Maltese, literally translating to ‘of the Jews’
Ever heard of hibernation in summer? That’s similar to what the Mediterranean snails, shown in a photo shared by Maltese Islands Weather, are up to. This sight of snails clustered on branches, grass, shrubs or plants can be fairly common in Malta during the summer months.
This state is known as aestivation, which is the dormant state of an animal during a hot or dry period. In this case, the snails would have a lowered metabolic rate and are largely inactive, remaining clustered together on the upper parts of plants or trees to escape the ground’s heat, while conserving their energy levels and retaining their body moisture.
This particular type of snail has several names aside from the 'Mediterranean', including ‘white garden snail’ and ‘tal-Lhudija’ (‘belonging to the Jews’) in Maltese. You may have spotted it roaming the countryside, or at a typical Maltese restaurant, as this particular species is edible and considered a local delicacy!
Do you wish you could hibernate in the summer too?