For most of the year, the white desert snail remains dormant, hiding beneath the talus. During this time, it withdraws into the protection of its shell, and attaches the opening of the shell to a rock. This seals the white desert snail away from the harsh environment outside, and helps to reduce water loss (2) (4) (5).
When the winter rain arrives and the air is moist, the white desert snail becomes active again (2) (5), and begins to feed upon detritus and fungi which it scrapes from the rock surfaces. Little else is currently known about the biology of the white desert snail, but it is thought to have a lifespan of up to 12 years (5).