Snails

Snails are a large and diverse group of mollusks within the class Gastropoda. They are characterized by a muscular foot used for locomotion and, in many species, a coiled shell that protects the body. Snails inhabit terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments and include tens of thousands of described species.

Anatomically, most snails have a head with tentacles, a visceral mass, and a muscular foot that secretes mucus to aid movement. Land snails are typically air-breathing with a pulmonary mantle cavity, while many aquatic snails have gills. The shell is produced by the mantle and can be open or closed by an operculum in some species.

Snails occupy a wide range of habitats, from damp soil and leaf litter to ponds, rivers, and coral reefs. They move slowly and rely on mucus to reduce friction and protect against dehydration. Reproduction varies: many land snails are hermaphrodites; most aquatic species have separate sexes.

Most snails are herbivores or detritivores, feeding on plant material, fungi, and decaying matter, though some aquatic species are carnivorous or omnivorous. Snails play important roles in ecosystems as decomposers and as prey for a variety of animals. Calcium-rich shells provide long-term shelter when shells are empty.

Humans interact with snails in diverse ways. They are consumed as escargot in some cultures, kept as pets, and used in scientific research. Many species are garden pests, while others are threatened by habitat loss and pollution. Invasive snails can affect agriculture and native fauna.