Snail

A snail is a gastropod mollusc, usually with a coiled shell that allows the animal to retract for protection.

A snail is a gastropod mollusc, usually with a coiled shell that allows the animal to retract for protection. The term is used most often for land snails, but it can also refer to many marine and freshwater gastropods with similar shells. Shell-less gastropods are generally called Slug or sea slug. Snails are found across the world map in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments.

Definition and classification

Snails are molluscs in the class Gastropoda, a large group of molluscs. Most snails have a coiled shell secreted by the mantle, large enough for the animal to retract into for protection. In common usage, the word usually refers to land snails, but it is also used for many aquatic species.

Anatomy and movement

A snail typically has a soft body, a muscular foot for locomotion, a definable head with eyes and sensory tentacles, and a radula for feeding. The shell, when present, is secreted by the mantle and serves as protection.

Habitat and diversity

Snails occur in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats, with many species adapted to moist environments. In Canada, they are present across the country, especially in freshwater systems, contributing to aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.

Diet and human use

Snails feed using a radula to scrape or consume food such as algae and plant material, though diets vary by species. Some snails are eaten by humans, especially in cuisines that serve Escargot.