Snail
Snail
Snail (/sneɪl/), from the Old English snægl, is a common name that is applied most often to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks. However, the common name "snail" is also applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have a coiled shell in the adult stage.
Etymology
The word "snail" is derived from the Old English snægl, which was used to refer to a kind of shellfish. The term was later applied to the slow-moving terrestrial creatures we know today.
Anatomy
Snails have a coiled shell that grows with them and serves as protection. They have a foot used for locomotion, and tentacles on their head, one pair of which usually has eyes. The mouth is located beneath the tentacles and contains a radula, a unique organ within mollusks used for feeding.
Behavior
Snails are known for their slow movement. They produce a slimy trail which aids in their locomotion. Most snails are herbivores, eating vegetation such as leaves, stems and flowers, some larger species and marine based species can be predatory omnivores or even carnivores.
Medical Relevance
Certain species of snails are intermediate hosts for the development of various parasites, including some that are harmful to humans. For example, freshwater snails can transmit schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasitic flatworms.
Related Terms
- Gastropoda: The large taxonomic class to which snails belong.
- Mollusca: The phylum that includes snails and other soft-bodied animals with or without a shell.
- Radula: A unique feeding organ found in mollusks, used to scrape or cut food before the food enters the esophagus.
- Schistosomiasis: A disease caused by parasitic flatworms, which can be transmitted by freshwater snails.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Snail
- Wikipedia's article - Snail
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