6 WATCH A SNAIL HIDE INSIDE ITS SHELL

WATCH A SNAIL 5

HIDE INSIDE ITS SHELL

The

and slow-moving garden snail is a type of mollusk, its soft body is protected inside a hard outer shell.

Snails are born in their shells, which are spongy at first and become stronger, holding most of their internal organs as they grow. A garden snail cannot survive without its shell and will retract inside it when threatened by a predator.

During dry or cold weather, it will also seal the opening of its shell, helping to maintain a moist and comfortable environment. You might also notice a snail trail in your garden or on a path, glistening in the sun. Take a closer look here as a snail retreats into its own personal hiding place . . .

It’s a wet summer’s day, and the last drops of rain bounce from the leaves in the bushes onto the grass below. This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

A ll snails have a radula on their tongue, a stretchy strip of thousands of tiny “teeth” arranged in rows. A garden snail has around fourteen thousand “teeth,” which it uses like a file to scrape and grind its food.

Snail spies a juicy leaf. Everything is quiet and peaceful, until . . .

A crow's shadow takes Snail by surprise. Like lightning, Snail withdraws into its shell, narrowly avoiding the peckish bird.

Snail waits until all is calm . . . slowly uncoiling from its shell to survey its surroundings with its feelers.

Snail trails act like glue, helping the snail stick to its food, like leaves and stalks. When the snail is on the move again, the trail becomes silky-smooth, making it easier to glide along.

Snails cannot see well and they don’t hear at all. Instead, they use their very strong sense of smell to find their way toward food.This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.