25 Cool And Fun Snail Facts

Snails are a common animal. Snails are the largest group of animals in the molluscan class. Snails are one of the two members of the gastropods with the slugs. Snails have a shell in their body. They can retract completely all of their bodies Into the shell. Snails are move slow. The slow speed of a snail is used as a common metaphor. They are mostly seen in tropical weather. Snails live close to water resources. Snails are mostly nocturnal. Snails are mostly shy and retract at a human encounter. A group of snails is referred to as a rout, walk, or escargatoire of snails.

There are three major types of snails. Land snail, Freshwater snail, and Sea snail. Land snails live in the land. Sometimes seen in the water. Freshwater snails live in water and usually don't come out of water. Sea snails are hard to distinguish as they don't live total marine life. They are also seen on freshwaters sometimes. Sea snails are the highest in the number of snail species. Most snail species usually have a life span of 2-5 years. Most snails pair up and mate. Snails lay eggs and new snails hatch from eggs.

Snails are known to us. They are kept as pets. In some areas of the world, snails are eaten. The shell of snails is also used in various products. Some snails are known as pests. Most snails are harmless and vulnerable. Though freshwater snails are known to be the carrier of schistosomes, which are responsible for over 2,00,000 deaths in Asia and Africa. Snails are also economically important animals as food and raw material. They are also used as natural waste removers on many plantations. Snails are an important part of our nature and economy.

These are some unknown facts about snails:

Fact: Snails are pretty ancient. Earliest found fossils of any gastropod are around 350 million years old.

Fact: There are over 40,000 species of snails in the world. They are the largest portion of gastropods.

Fact: The largest known snail species is the Achatina achatina, commonly known as the great African snail. They can grow over 10 inches from head to tail.

Fact: Dominika snails are the smallest snails. The scientific name is Angustopila Dominika and these snails grow only 0.86 mm.

Fact: Snails from the family Helicidae are some of the most common snails. Cornu aspersum, known as the garden snail is seen all over the world except arctics.

Fact: All Cone snails are venomous and capable of stinging. Most cone snail stings are the same as bee stings. Some large cone snails are deadly.

Fact: Achatina Fulica lays the highest number of eggs in snails. They can lay up to 400 eggs per clutch.

Fact: Every garden snail has both male and female reproductive organs and all of them can lay eggs.

Fact: Apple Snails and periwinkles snails have separate male and female individuals.

Fact: In France and Poland eggs of land snails are considered a delicacy. Edible snail eggs are called snail caviar or escargot pearls or Pearls of Aphrodite.

Fact: It takes four weeks to hatch snail eggs. Snails are born with a soft transparent or white shell.

Fact: Shells of the limpet snails are the strongest natural material.

Fact: Snails don't change shells. They live inside a single shell all the life. They can not live without their shell.

Fact: Some snail species hibernate. Some snail species aestivate. They are one of the few animals to have both characteristics.

Fact: Snails produce Mucus, a physical lubricant to move without physical damage and get inside the shell without getting hurt.

Fact: Snails don't have any auditory system they can't hear.

Fact: Snails and slugs are the same. The only difference is the shell. Slugs don't have shells.

Fact: Historically snails are older than slugs. It is believed that slugs evolved from snails.

Fact: Snail mucus is found helpful to heal wounds or trigger immune.

Fact: Some snail species like the Pseudotrichia rubiginosa, commonly known as German Hairy Snail Grows hair on the shell.

Fact: Native Americans saw snails as a symbol of joy and rebirth.

Fact: Conch Shell trumpet is an important part of Hindu worship. These shales are called Shankha.

Fact: In the Mayan culture snails are the symbol of sexual desire.

Fact: Humans and snails share common ancestors. Our last common ancestors lived 600,000,000 years ago.

Fact: Snails and snail shells are used in cosmetic products.

Fact: Bamiléké people of Cameroon uses snail Snail slime to treat burns.

Snails are mysterious and beautiful creatures. They are slowly roaming on the surface of the earth and beneath the seas for millions of years. They are one important part of our ecosystem. Most of the snail species are out of danger of extinction. But some beautiful snails are traded illegally and that puts them on the verge of extinction. Six species of the Cuban painted snail are facing continuous threats of extinction. Only love for the animal can now save these species. These are all we have today on snails.