1. Pond Snails
Thursday, October 26, 2006

2. What Are Snails?
They fall under the category of mollusks – which include oysters, clams, and other shellfish. They have soft bodies and hard shells.

3. It is a gastropod – in Latin “gastro” means stomach and “pod” means foot.
Stomach + foot = belly-footed animal.

4. The Snail’s “Foot”
The snail moves by using the muscles in its “foot” on the bottom.
The muscles create a rippling movement to push it forward. However, it moves very slowly.

5. The Snail’s “Foot”
When the snail moves, it leaves behind a slimy mucus. It lets the snail go on sharp and dangerous things, like rocks, without hurting its soft body.

6. The Snail’s Shell The shell protects the snail’s soft body
The shell is part of the snail’s body. They are attached, so they do NOT need to change shells as they grow bigger.

7. The Snail’s Tentacles
The snail has two pairs of tentacles on its head.
Eyes are on the longer pair, even though snails have poor or no vision.
Shorter pair is used for smelling and feeling its way around.

8. The Snail’s Radula
Its mouth is located at the bottom of the snail. The radula is like a rough tongue that grinds up the snail’s food. It’s like a file with rows of tiny teeth.

9. Male or Female?
A snail is both male and female. They have everything they need to make snail babies.

10. How Do They Reproduce? The snails lay eggs in algae.
The eggs look like little white balls in clusters.

11. What Do Snails Eat? Scavengers – feed on dead or decaying things.
Algae collecting in our aquariums
Microscopic (very tiny) creatures found on the surface of the water.
The guppies’ waste

12. How Do They Breathe?
Some pond snails have gills to breathe underwater. Those that do not, come up to the surface of our aquarium to get air.

13. More Fun Facts 
Did you know that the snail can live up to 5 to 10 years? Some have been known to live to 15 years!

14. More Fun Facts 
Did you know that snails have enemies? Ground beetles, snakes, toads, turtles, birds, and some fish love eating the soft bodies of snails!

15. More Fun Facts 
Did you know that snails can be eaten by people? French people love to eat snails! It is called escargot.

16. Quiz Time! 

17. 1. What are snails?
Mollusks
Amphibians
Humans
Insects

18. Mollusks The correct answer is…
They have hard shells to protect their soft bodies! Just like clams and oysters.

19. 2. What is the slimy stuff that snails leave behind?
Jell-o
Water
Mucus
Waste

20. C. Mucus The correct answer is…
It lets the snails move across sharp and dangerous objects like rocks without getting hurt!

21. 3. True or False?
When the snail grows, it needs to move out of its shell and find a bigger one.

22. False! The correct answer is…
The snail’s shell is attached to its soft body. It does NOT need to get a new shell.

23. 4. What do snails use to smell and feel their way around?
Its shell
Its foot
Its mouth
Its tentacles

24. Since snails have poor or no vision, they use their tentacles.
The correct answer is…
D. Its tentacles
Since snails have poor or no vision, they use their tentacles.

25. 5. What is the “rough tongue” called?
Mucus
Radula
Snout
Tentacles

26. B. Radula The correct answer is…
It grinds up the snail’s food. It’s like a file with rows of tiny teeth.

27. 7. Where do the snails lay their eggs?
In the algae
On the guppies
Under the rocks
On the tank walls

28. We don’t have any in our aquariums though.
The correct answer is…
In the algae
We don’t have any in our aquariums though.

29. 8. What do the snail eggs look like?
A pile of stacked squares
One giant white egg
Flat
Clusters of small white balls

30. D. Clusters of small white balls
The correct answer is…
D. Clusters of small white balls

31. 9. What do snails eat?
Hamburgers, fries, and a drink
Algae, microscopic creatures, and guppies’ waste
Rotten fruits and vegetables
Rocks and water

32. B. Algae, microscopic creatures, and guppies’ waste
The correct answer is…
B. Algae, microscopic creatures, and guppies’ waste
Ponds snails are scavengers. They help keep our aquariums clean by eating all the waste and algae that collects on the side of our tanks.

33. 10. How do snails breathe? Through the holes in their shell
Some have gills and others have to come to the surface of the water to get air.
They don’t need to breathe.
Snails breathe with their tentacles.

34. The correct answer is…
B. Some have gills and others have to come to the surface of the water to get air.
Many of you have seen the snails do that!

35. * Bonus Question #1:
Who are the snail’s predators?

36. * Answer
Ground beetles, snakes, toads, turtles, birds, and some fish love eating the soft bodies of snails!

37. *Bonus Question #2:
What do the French people call snails that they eat?

38. *Answer:
Escargot!

39. The End 