How do snails talk to each other over long distances?
By snail mail!
You guessed it, today's post is going to be about snails. Not just any snail but the quite common brown lipped snail. Look at this little beauty I found this summer.
You guessed it, today's post is going to be about snails. Not just any snail but the quite common brown lipped snail. Look at this little beauty I found this summer.
Their scientific name is Cepaea Nemoralis and their distinctive feature is the darker coloured line on the front of the shell, the one that runs opposite to the others on this particular individual. The rest of the shell can actually be many different colours, this one is just one of the variations. Apparently scientists have looked in to why the shells are so different but except from giving camouflage in different areas there's no telling why they vary so much.
Their favourite habitats are woodlands, gardens and as you can see grasslands. This particular one I found in an old mining area near my house which has been turned in to a small nature reserve.
Also, as you know, on rainy days they like to come out of their protective shell and move about. Like this one, a proper climber and not bothered at all about me! I just had to stop and admire its adventure for a bit.
You might have noticed that I'm using the word it instead of him or her, which sounds horrible but it's because they have two sexual organs, one of each. So I guess that would mean it could be Michael one day and Michaela the next? However you might think this means it can mate with it self, I'm afraid it can't as it needs the eggs to be fertilises by another snail. Either way I find this Amazing.
Snails are not everyone's favourite though, but do they actually deserve this bad reputation? What most don't know is that they're not out for the freshest garden delights, they rather have the decaying and dead plants. So why not create a little feast corner for them in your garden instead of getting rid of them?
Because getting rid of all the snails means less population of its predators. Predators such as the song thrush and the beloved hedgehog. Bless the little hedgehog who already has such a hard time in the UK.
So if you love hedgehogs I suggest you appreciate the snail population in your garden!
If you want to read more about this snail click the links below.
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