Kuchibeni maimai snail Coloring Pages

Are you wearing makeup? How it got its name

The name of the Kuchibeni maimai snail means "lipstick snail" in Japanese. What a fancy name!

• Just like its name says, its best feature is the opening of its shell. It is colored reddish-purple, just like it is wearing lipstick.

• "Maimai" is an old Japanese word for snail. It is a very cute snail. It looks just like a girl putting on makeup before going to a party!

English Name

In English, it is called the "Kuchibeni land snail" or by its scientific name, "Euhadra amaliae". It lives only in western Japan. Researchers all over the world love this rare snail!

When can you see it?

The Kuchibeni maimai snail is most active in the rainy season, around June and July.

• It loves wet days! When it rains, it climbs out onto trees and leaves right away.

• In hot summers or cold winters, it stays hidden inside its shell. It takes a nice, long nap indoors.

Where does it live? Areas to find it

The Kuchibeni maimai snail is native to Japan. It mostly lives in western Japan, like the Kinki, Chugoku, and Shikoku regions.

• It looks like the "Misuji maimai" snail found in eastern Japan. But you can tell the Kuchibeni maimai snail apart by the red color around its shell opening!

• You might find one if you look on trees in the woods, park hedges, or between old stone walls.

What does it eat?

The Kuchibeni maimai snail is a plant eater. It loves eating green things!

• It eats fallen leaves, mushrooms, and moss growing on rocks.

• Snails have a tongue with many tiny teeth. It works like a file to scrape up food and eat it.

• To make a strong shell, it also licks concrete walls to get calcium.

How long does it live? Lifespan

The Kuchibeni maimai snail lives for about 3 to 5 years.

• Its shell is very thin when it is a baby. As it grows, the red lipstick mark appears, and it gets a fine adult shell.

A right-handed swirl

Most Kuchibeni maimai snail shells swirl to the right.

• Hold the shell with the top pointing up. If the opening is on the right, it is a right-handed swirl!

• Most snails in Japan swirl to the right. But a few rare ones swirl to the left. Checking the swirl is lots of fun!

A single stripe on its back

Take a close look from its face to its back!

• It has one dark stripe running right down the middle of its soft body.

• The pattern on its body is just as important as its shell to spot a Kuchibeni maimai snail!

Color the Most Important "Lipstick"!

The best part of this snail is the color around its mouth.

• The lipstick line: Try coloring the edge of the shell opening in a clear "red-purple or deep pink." Just coloring this spot makes it look like a Kuchibeni maimai snail right away!

• In this coloring page, there are double lines around its mouth. Color inside them carefully.

Shell Shine and Color Mix

The shell of a Kuchibeni maimai snail usually does not have clear stripes, but it has soft patterns.

• Shell base color: Gently color the whole shell in "light cream" or "beige."

• Round spiral shape: Make the "brown" a little darker toward the center of the swirl. This shows the round shell and makes it look real.

Wet and Slimy Body Feel

A snail's body is very wet and slimy.

• Body color: Use "light gray" or "beige close to white." Color lightly to make it look a bit see-through.

• Back line: Draw one smooth line on its back with "dark brown." Just adding this makes your picture look real like a guide book!

Do Not Forget the Eye Tips

The eyes sit right on the tips of the tentacles.

• How to color the eyes: Color the tiny dots at the tips of the long tentacles in "deep black."

• If you use a light color for the tentacles, you can see where the eyes are. Then everyone knows where the snail is looking.

Color the Hydrangeas in the Background

• Flower colors: Hydrangeas come in many colors like "blue, purple, and pink." Color them brightly with any colors you like.

• Leaf contrast: Color the leaves in "dark green." This makes the bright snail and flowers pop out and look super pretty!

The red color around the mouth makes the Kuchibeni maimai snail look very fancy. Use your favorite colors and finish a lovely picture that makes you look forward to rainy days!

The Name Comes from "Red Lipstick"

The best feature of the Kuchibeni maimai snail is that the rim of its shell opening is "a soft reddish-purple (pink)". It looks like it is wearing makeup and wearing lipstick! That is how it got this cute name.

It is Proof of Becoming an Adult

Actually, they do not wear lipstick when they are babies. As they grow bigger over time, the shell opening flips out a little bit and gets its bright red color only when they become adults.

They Live in Only a Few Places in Japan

You cannot find them everywhere in Japan. They mostly live in forests and woods from the Kinki region to the Chubu region. They only live in Japan, and you can often see them walking slowly under damp fallen leaves or on tree trunks.

A Right-Handed Snail

Snails have different shell spiral directions, and the Kuchibeni maimai snail is a "right-handed" type. When you look at the shell with the top pointing up, the opening is on the right side.