Interesting Facts About Snails

Even if we respect every living thing’s right to life, let’s face it, we love some less than others. One of these less favorite creatures is snails. The snail, a type of mollusk, With its shell as big as itself, it tries to crawl around whenever we look at it. and with this feature, it is an interesting creature that is the subject of even cartoons.

Due to its appearance, many people have a slight feeling of disgust when confronted with a snail, even if they don’t show it. But it would not be wrong to say that these creatures are the backbone of nature, because it is these small creatures that ensure the healthiest functioning of the ecosystem in which they live. Bride Some of the extraordinary information about snails, some of which you will hear for the first time. Let’s take a closer look.

Interesting facts about snails you’ve never heard of:

• There are tens of thousands of different types of snails.
• Snails don’t just live on land.
• The world’s largest snail is much bigger than you think.
• The world’s smallest snail is much smaller than you think.
• Snails are members of a special system of organisms.
• Attention bites!
• They use their shells just like a turtle.
• Snails are sexless.
• Snail races are a very popular recreational activity.
• It’s hard not to envy the snail’s sleep time.

There are tens of thousands of different types of snails:

We are sure that when many people think of snails, the first thing that comes to mind will be the species we generally see in the gardens. However, in studies of scientists To date, more than 43 thousand different snail species have been discovered. Their sizes, colors, shell structures and even the areas they live in are completely different from each other.

Snails don’t just live on land:

Since there are tens of thousands of different types of snails, if you are asking where they are, you have to dive a little deeper, because snails are not only found on land, but also on land. They also live in fresh water and salt water. There are more than 4,000 different species of freshwater snails discovered to date. In addition to the freshwater species living in lakes and rivers, the number of saltwater species clinging to a rock on the sea floor is not rare. Although these are snails in appearance, some have gills.

The world’s largest snail is much bigger than you think:

The average size of snails varies between 5 and 10 cm. Of course, these are only the species we encounter in daily life. There is also a species called African snail. The average dimensions of this species are 17 cm, The maximum size it can reach is almost 40 cm. Of course, the African snail is considered an invasive species because it is the primary consumer of over 500 plant species. As if it were not enough, it is also the main carrier of the parasite that causes meningitis.

The world’s smallest snail is much smaller than you think:

Fortunately, not all snails in the world are as gigantic as the African snail. Some are small, very small. A micro snail called acmella nana, which means dwarf in Latin. sometimes even below 0.07 cm in size. Of course, since these could not be seen with the naked eye, scientists had to do in-depth research. The research results were surprising because it was discovered that there are more than 500 different species of snails with such small sizes.

Snails are members of a special system of organisms:

Snails are thought to be reptiles because they crawl everywhere, but they are not. They’re not mammals anyway. Snails are a type of mollusk called gastropod. There are more than 40 thousand different living species in the gastropod organism system, especially snails and slugs. The snail is also an invertebrate, as it lacks a backbone and a skeletal system. That’s why the shell is important. Without it, it has no protective structure.

Attention bites!

Do not underestimate the snails and think of it as a carafe, because they themselves are very toothy creatures. A snail has an average of a thousand teeth. Some species have been discovered to have more than 20,000 females. Of course, these are microscopic teeth and not very sharp. However, all these teeth function according to their size and are extremely useful both when eating and digging. Let us remind you that no snail bite cases have come to the emergency services of hospitals until today.

They use their shell just like a turtle:

We said that snails are invertebrate mollusks, so their bodies are the jelly-like you know. Therefore, the shells they have are of vital importance to them. This shell protects them during a possible attack. When they feel danger, they curl up inside the shell like a turtle and push their sensitive points away from danger. The shell does not just act as a shield, At the same time, it has the feature of protecting the living thing from high temperature and very cold.

Let’s give a little more information about snail shells. Many crustaceans shed their shells over the years and form a new one. The snail, on the other hand, continues with the shell from which it was born until it dies. Of course, this shell grows and becomes stronger with it, just like the limb of a living thing. Since snail shells are a complete calcium store, they can be hunted by different creatures as snacks.

Snails are asexual:

Like many different species, snails are hermaphrodites, meaning they are neither male nor female. A snail has its own system for producing both eggs and sperm. Of course, some of the tens of thousands of snail species have male and female characteristics. In general, these sex characteristics emerge with the period of sexual maturity. The time of emergence may vary from individual to individual.

Snail races are a very popular recreational activity:

Okay, you can laugh because the average snail’s speed is 0.04 kilometers per hour. However, that speed doesn’t mean they can’t compete. There are many different snail racing events held in different parts of the world. There are great claims and records in these events, where garden snails compete in general. The most recent record holder is a snail named Archie, who completed a 330 mm long track at 0.08 m per hour in 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

It’s hard not to be envious of the snail’s sleep time:

Snails are surrounded by mucus and therefore they need constant fluids. If they are not in a humid environment, they can secrete this liquid even in the driest environment, but it is not always easy. The snail in a dry environment withdraws into its shell and begins to sleep. It secretes the mucus it needs during sleep. This secretion, that is, the sleep process can sometimes be for a few hours, but sometimes a snail can sleep for a full 3 years. That’s why it would be best not to step on the shells that seem to be empty and think they are dead.

One of the most extraordinary creatures in the world We talked about interesting facts about snails, some of which you have heard for the first time. It would be a lie if we say that the world’s biggest snail thing didn’t give a little chills.