In total, in the world there are about 110 thousand species of snails, of which about 2000 are in Eurasia. The worst and most dangerous snail is called geographical cone. The danger lies in the ability to produce such a number of toxins that can kill up to ten people. It acts using a cloud that contains a huge amount of insulin and when inhaled into the blood instantly reduces the amount of sugar in the human blood. The antidote from these toxins was not found and now.
The Angustopila Dominikae snail is also very noteworthy, which has a body size only 0.8 millimeters. In one needle ear you can place 4 such mollusks. And the largest snailing is a belly Australian trumpeter. The weight of this representative reaches 18 kilograms. He was attributed to predators, who settled in a 30 meter depth in Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea.
In total, three classes of these mollusks are distinguished:
In parallel, there are pulmonary and gill snails.
The main types of snails
Grape snail
Grape snail a land coin of a rather large size, which is located on the territory of the European continent. The sink size does not exceed 50 millimeters, and the spiral consists of 5 turns. The leg is 52 millimeters in length with a width of 22 millimeters.
The color of her shell is beige with a reddish tint. Three turns of the shell are painted in alternating light and dark stripes.
Life expectancy 20 years. All winter she rests, clinging to her sole to the substrate. In these three months, she drops up to 10% of her body weight. It takes a month and a half to recover.
This representative adapts perfectly to home conditions. Many countries create special farms, since I use grape snails in cooking. Her meat has a mass of beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Snail coil
Snail Coil is a freshwater type of mollusks. The habitat chooses mainly near reservoirs with rich vegetation.
A shell in the form of a twisted spiral, on which a seam is visible. The color of the sink is predominantly brick color, but red are also found. It grows up to 1 centimeter in nature, but there are representatives with a size of 3.7 centimeters.
The peculiarity lies in the ability to move the sink along the flow of water, while breathing with an accumulated oxygen. If the coil coil suspected the danger, then it releases oxygen to fall to the bottom and hide there.
In total, 5 types of coils are allocated:
- Horn;
- Red horn;
- Far Eastern;
- Kilevataya;
- Wrapped.
The coil coil can be found as a pets. As a rule, they are populated by aquariums. They have a good ability to cleanse the aquarium, eating rotten plants and food.
Garden snail
Garden snail is considered pests of gardens. All owners of the sites are trying to actively exterminate this type if they meet in the crop. These snails feed on fresh leaves and shoots, thereby causing serious damage to the development of agricultural products. However, they are also orderlies, since they are engaged in the processing of vegetation residues.
The garden snail is no different from the usual. Lives on land, in the dark hides in the shade, and in the evening goes out in search of food. This snail is a very whimsical creature, so I often bred it in home aquariums.
Snail Neretin
Neretina is a very remarkable look of a home snail. Differs in its motley shell with unique colorful patterns. Size can reach 3.2 centimeters. Shells are found flat and rounded, which are decorated with various patterns. The body itself is painted dark.
In total, 4 types of Neretina are distinguished:
- Zebra has a characteristic striped color of the sink;
- Tiger color with alternating orange and black stripes;
- Olive-the color is light green or olive;
- Horned is characterized by antennae in the form of oxes.
Neretina herself lives on the territory of Africa, where she settled a number of reservoirs. The snail is not very whimsical in its requirements, since for a long time it can do without food, eating waste and rot.
Achatine is giant
Achatin was found only on the territory of the African continent for a long time. Now she is actively breeding in home aquariums or terrariums.
It differs in its large dimensions, since its sink can reach 20 centimeters weighing up to 500 grams. In the nature of Eurasia you will not meet him, and at home they are bred in specially equipped terrariums.
Achatina is endowed with a conical sink, which is twisted along the time. Brown shell color with different shades. Among Achatin, you can find Albinos, which has a completely white color. It feeds mainly with various plants. Is hermaphrodite, t.e. has a male and feminine principle.
The lifestyle of giant ahatina is mainly night. The activity of the snail is determined by the level of humidity in the aquarium.
Snail Helena
Helena is a freshwater mollusk that settled the area of Southeast Asia. Cannibalism is inherent in these snails when they can eat their own relatives. They are often used to clean aquariums.
Helena is distinguished by its appearance with a characteristic sink, which has a conical shape and is painted in alternating yellow and brown stripes. Body size varies within 20 millimeters. The color of the body is distinguished by a gray-green color. Life expectancy rarely exceeds 2 years.
To breed a snail in home aquariums, special hard water will be required without salt. It is also worth equipping a territory with soil or sand. Fits, as noted, small mollusks. However, it can be fed with various small fish, shrimp or kril.
Mucus
One of the most unusual species, which is distinguished by the absence of a sink characteristic of all snails. According to other criteria, the mucus is no worse than their relatives. The size ranges from a few centimeters, but individuals met with a body length of 32 centimeters
The color of the slug can fluctuate depending on the variety. There are gray-brown, chestnut, red and even black slugs. As a habitat, areas with high humidity are chosen. Due to the lack of a sink, the slugs are forced to constantly hide from the effects of external stimuli: wind, sun, cold.
The lifestyle of the mollusk is mainly night, since this time can not hide from the heat. Spends winter in the soil.
Slug movement occurs according to the type of worm. They excellently reduce the body, distinguishing a lot of mucus. Almost any plant foods feed on: leaves, flowers, berries, mushrooms. It can use carrion. Predatory slides can eat even relatives and small newborn mice.
Bitinium
Pretty small species of freshwater snails, the size of the body of which does not exceed 15 millimeters. The sink has a spiral shape with a flat surface. Color can fluctuate from gray to brown. The average life expectancy is 5.5 years. Bitinium has spread on the Eurasian and American continent.
Luzhanka
Luzhanka belongs to the freshwater type of mollusk, which reaches 43 millimeters of length and almost 31 millimeters of width. Conical sink, which has several curls. The color is determined by the habitat. There are green, red, brownish and brown. Settled almost all of Europe, but is absent in the northern regions.
Bookcinum (trumpeter)
Sailor’s marine representative, who differs in its impressive size. Buppinum body length reaches 25 centimeters diagonally and 17 centimeters vertically. The color is predominantly light brown. The texture of the sink is usually smooth, but relief species are also found. This representative was attributed to predators. He is able to inject poisonous saliva, which completely paralyzes the victim. Lives on the territory of the Northern Ocean.
Ampulia
The snail lives in aquariums and requires special conditions. Mollusk is distinguished by his love for food, so if the feed is not enough, it begins to eat aquarium plants. In its size, the ampularia reaches 15.5 centimeters.
In the aquarium with this mollusk you need to organize a small airspace under water so that they can breathe. It can also go beyond the aquarium, so it is worth carefully checking whether it is closed. If the ampularia falls into the air, it will die.
General characteristics of snails
Snail is a unique creature that is well adapted to life in nature, and is also quite often found as a domestic animal. By origin of the snails are mollusks and relate to the category of gastropods.
Characteristic
The snail is distinguished by its structure. As a rule, their body consists of several parts: head, leg, inspection bag and mantle fold. Snail movements are carried out using the sole, which is located on the back of the leg. Direct movement occurs by exciting muscle contraction. For quick and comfortable sliding, snails produce a large amount of mucus.
The structure of the sink of snails is presented in the form of several layers:
Snail mucus has a unique composition, which is of great importance to the life of mollusk. Only mucus mucus has only mucin and water protein. This mucus is widely used in some areas of human life. For example, today it is used in cosmetic procedures. It helps to rejuvenate and moisturize skin cells.
Snail nutrition
Snails are determined by the habitat. As a rule, their diet is extremely diverse. These mollusks use these mollusks:
- The remains of rotten plants;
- Unsteady plants;
- Worms;
- Carrion;
- Fish;
- Their relatives;
- Insects;
- Crustaceans.
Little mollusks adhere to a vegetarian fit of food. In their diet, the main place is occupied by various leaves, fruits and berries, vegetables and herbs. Young snails eat fresh leaves, and with age they prefer already rotten plants.
Propagation of snails
The method of propagation of snails is determined depending on their belonging. For example, many belly snails are predominantly oviparous animals. And the process of fertilization itself is determined by the habitat.
Snails that are endowed with light and settled in water or land are considered hermaphrodites. They have two principles: male and female. Freshwater species put eggs in capsules, and land masonry in small fossa. 85 eggs can go out for one masonry. The process of their maturation does not exceed 28 days.
