Green tree snail Coloring Pages

Forest Emeralds! The Secret of Their Beautiful Green Color

The Green tree snail is said to be the most beautiful snail in Japan. Its biggest feature is its bright green color, just like an emerald jewel!

• The shell itself is not actually green. It is the color of the body inside showing through!

• The shell is thin and almost clear white. Because the body inside is green, the whole snail looks bright green. Isn't that amazing?

Name Origin and English Names

You can learn a lot about this creature if you break down its Japanese name!

• "Aomi" means having a blue (green) body.

• "Okatanishi" means a land-dwelling snail cousin.

• In English, it is called by its scientific name "Leptopoma nitidum," or "Green land snail" based on how it looks.

Where Do They Live? Places You Can See Them

The Green tree snail is a special creature. It only lives on Japan's southern islands, the Nansei Islands (like the Amami Islands in Kagoshima and Okinawa).

• Unlike other snails, it loves living up in trees rather than on the ground.

• They often hide behind mulberry leaves and banyan leaves.

When Can You Meet Them?

They live on warm southern islands, so you can see them all year round.

• You can see them crawling happily on trees, especially after it rains or when it is very humid.

• On hot, sunny days, they usually rest quietly under leaves.

What Do They Eat?

Green tree snails do not eat the leaves of forest trees.

• They scrape off and eat moss and algae growing on leaves and tree trunks.

• They work like little helpers, keeping the leaf surfaces clean!

How Long Do They Live?

We do not know their exact lifespan in the wild, but people think they live for about 1 to 2 years.

• It is a short life, but they brighten up the forest with their beautiful emerald color.

Big Difference from Snails: Where Their Eyes Are

Here is the most surprising part! Green tree snails have eyes in a different place than regular snails.

• Regular snails have eyes at the tips of their long tentacles.

• But the Green tree snail has eyes at the base of its tentacles!

• Look closely at the bottom of the tentacles when you color your page!

They Have a Lid on Their Shell!

Because the Green tree snail is related to river snails, it has a lid at the opening of its shell.

• After pulling its body inside, it closes this lid tight to protect itself from enemies and stay moist.

• Regular snails do not have lids, so this is special to this snail family.

Ninjas Living in the Trees

Green tree snails are great at hiding tight behind leaves so enemies cannot find them.

• Their bright green color acts as camouflage to blend in with the leaves.

• It is hard to spot them in the forest, but you will be amazed by their beauty when you do!

How to Choose Colors: Clear Emerald Green

The best part of this creature is its beautiful green color!

• Main Color: Try coloring the whole body with light green or yellow-green.

• Color Blending: Make the center of the shell swirl a bit whitish. Then make it bright green toward the outside. This will make it look see-through!

• Body Color: The body coming out of the shell is green too. Mix in a little pale yellow to make it look even realer!

Tips to Make the Shell Look See-Through

Let's make the shell look thin and clear!

• How to Color: Hold your colored pencil flat. Gently color in small circles.

• Shiny Light: Leave a tiny spot of white on the highest part of the shell. This gives it a shiny, jewel-like sparkle!

Be Careful Where You Put the Eyes!

This is the most important part for this coloring page!

• Coloring the Eyes: Do not color the tips of the tentacles. Color the tiny black dots at the base of the tentacles on the side of the face with dark black.

• The tips of the tentacles are round, but having no eyes there proves it is a Green tree snail!

Draw Tree Leaves in the Background

Green tree snails love being in trees. Let's make a neat background too!

• Big Leaves: Draw dark green leaves under its feet. A dark background makes the bright green of the main Green tree snail pop right out!

• Add Wet Shimmer: Draw little water drops around it. This makes a wonderful picture that feels like a forest after the rain.

Add Shadows to Make It Look 3D

• Shadow Under the Tummy: Add a little shadow using gray or light purple where the body touches the leaf.

• This makes a cool 3D picture that looks like the Green tree snail is slowly crawling on the leaf!

The Green tree snail is a "moving emerald" living in southern island forests. Use your favorite colors to finish the most beautiful green in the world!

Is It True That the Shell Is Not Green?

The coolest thing about the Green tree snail is its beautiful green color, just like an emerald gem! But actually, its shell is completely clear. You are seeing its green body inside showing through the clear shell. What an amazing creature!

It Is a Snail with a Trapdoor!

This creature is a little different from regular land snails. The biggest difference is that it has a tiny door to close its shell. When it feels danger or gets dry, it hides inside its shell and snaps the round lid shut to stay safe!

Its Eyes Are in a Different Spot!

Regular snails have eyes on the very tips of their long feelers. But the Green tree snail has cute little eyes right at the bottom of its feelers. If you look closely at the bottom of its feelers, you will see a super cute face!

It Loves Being on Leaves in Warm Southern Islands

You cannot find it on Japan's main island. It lives on warm, green southern islands like Okinawa and the Amami Islands. It likes climbing trees much more than crawling on the ground. It sticks to the back of leaves and eats moss!