csiga

Csiga is the Hungarian common name for snail, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk. Snails in this sense are land-dwelling members of the class Gastropoda, characterized by a coiled shell into which the animal can retreat. The term covers many species across several families; terrestrial snails occur in a wide range of habitats, from gardens to forests and fields.

Physical description: Most csigák have a soft, ventral muscular foot used for locomotion, a head with two pairs of tentacles (the upper pair usually bearing the eyes) and a single shell made of calcium carbonate. They breathe air through a pallial lung (a modified mantle).

Ecology and diet: They are primarily herbivores or detritivores, feeding on leaves, decaying plant matter, fungi, and algae. They prefer moist environments to prevent desiccation. They play roles in decomposition and soil health, but some species can be agricultural pests.

Reproduction and life cycle: Many land snails are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. Most csigák mate and exchange sperm, then lay eggs in moist soil. Eggs hatch into juvenile snails that gradually grow through molts. In dry periods they may estivates, and in cold seasons may hibernate.

Human relevance and conservation: Some species are collected for food; edible snails such as those kept in snail farms are used in cuisine (escargot). Snails are studied in ecosystems and are indicators of environmental health. Habitat loss, pollution, pesticides, and invasive species threaten many native snails, prompting conservation efforts in some regions.