Slimy snails: Boneless creatures that can sleep for three years
Creepy, crawly and slimy – these are the three words that come to your mind when you think of snails. One of the earliest known animals, scientists have found evidence of snails' ancestors from the late Cambrian period, i.e., 500 million years ago. Who thought these tiny creatures could have survived so much! In fact, the earliest form of snails lived only in freshwater or the sea. As they evolved, they started living on land and in humid places.
These small greasy creatures can be quite fascinating. Here’s something interesting for you: The smallest snail in the world, Angustopila psammion, is so tiny that it can fit in a grain of sand! Let's unravel some more startling facts about these slimy creatures!
Snails have thousands of spines on their tongue
Yes, snails have teeth, around 1000 to 12000 of them, but they do not look like ours. These are tiny little spines covering the tongue. The tongue and tooth together are called a radula. The spines act like teeth which help snails to break their food into smaller chunks. Because of this, snails' teeth fall off and get replaced regularly. The function of radula differs among snail species. For instance, cone snails, found in tropical and warm weather, have a poisonous radula to paralyze their prey before eating. While most snails eat plants, vegetables, or fruits, some are carnivorous and feed on earthworms. One species called moon snails can eat one other too!
Can sleep for three years
Did you know that snails can sleep for up to three years? Imagine sleeping that long! But, unlike us, they don't sleep this long for relaxation. Snails need moisture to survive. So, if the surrounding weather becomes warm or dry, they enter estivation (summer sleep) or hibernation (winter sleep). When they sleep, they secrete a sticky material all around them that protects them from hot or dry weather. Typically, snails sleep for 13-15 hours daily when the weather is right. Once they wake up, they have enough energy for almost 30 hours. Talk about a powerful nap!
Wondering how they look while sleeping? Well, you can see their shell hanging out slightly off their body, relaxed foot, and tentacles (the antenna-like thing on their head) slightly withdrawn. Now, whenever you see a snail not moving, don't imagine it to be dead. It might just be taking one of its long power naps!
Offers medicinal benefits
For thousands of years, snails have been considered to have several health benefits. From the ancient times until the Middle Ages, humans have used snails for medicinal purposes. The sticky material obtained from them was used to treat the swelling of skin, cough and stomach ulcers. People from Southern Italy used the sticky trails left by snails to treat several skin problems. Nowadays, the slimy part of snails is added to cosmetic products. Medicinally, it is also used to make glue to seal skin cuts.
Did you know that snails are even a culinary delicacy in some parts of the world? Many cultures have embraced eating this creature because of its nutritional benefits. For example, in France, snails are cooked with butter and garlic. This delicacy is also enjoyed in some parts of North Africa, Greece, Portugal, and India.