The Animal World

Gastropods, including snails and slugs, are the most diverse group of molluscs. They live both on land and in the water. The various species of gastropods have developed different diets and forms of reproduction during the course of evolution. During their development, snails go through a process called torsion. Their mantle produces a spirally coiled shell, typically dextral, that is, right-handed. Slugs, however, are shell-less or have only a vestigial shell.

Roman snail

Roman snails are the largest European land snails:
their adult size can reach 45 mm in both width and height. They prefer chalky soils.

The Roman snail is a world champion slow mover. Waves of muscle contraction and relaxation travel along the foot while the snail is moving. This is how it travels on its slime trail, which is so thick that the animal is able to cross a sharp blade without harming itself.

Lifestyle

In autumn Roman snails hide under the leaves on the forest floor and hibernate; they form calcareous epiphragms in order to seal the opening of their shells for about 6 months. They reactivate in early spring.

Eyes

The eyes of snails are vesicular
eyes with a simple lense. It can only sense nearby objects.

Geographical range: Europe

Feeding behaviour: herbivore

Body length: 3–4.5 cm

In many countries Roman snails are consi­dered a delicacy; they are eaten cooked as appetisers, known as ‚escargot’.

In Medieval Europe, snails were eaten
as lent food as they are not mentioned among the prohibited foods.