How have snails evolved, and how can we learn to be natural like them?

Pranita Rao
May 30
3 min read

Science of snails

How have the snails evolved with time?

Once upon a time, snails were only to be found in marine life, having gills to acquire oxygen out of water. However, over time, these marine ancestors have evolved into land snails too. Such an evolution would have required many adaptive changes.

Let's view some of the adaptations seen in the land snails!

The marine snails had comb gills that helped them breathe underwater. Whereas, the land snails can absorb the air from the atmosphere directly through their lung cavity or the pallial cavity and an organ called the pneumostome that helps them breathe.
The mantle of the snails protects the snails from losing water and drying out. Unlike their marine ancestors, land snails would have to protect themselves from drying out. The thick folds in the mantle cavity allow the flow of air. The snails use the pneumostome to open and close the cavity. The opening and closing prevent air and water loss.
The slime of the snails also protects the snails, as the slime is hygroscopic, that is, it attracts water. If you were a snail, you would be wearing a suit made of water!
Snail behavior has also evolved with time. Land snails dig pits and hide in them during dry weather. They even produce a solid layer of mucous and create a lid inside their shell that prevents external stimuli from entering the shell. This act becomes a way to prevent water loss too. The hiding process is called aestivation.
Lastly, when snails crawl on the ground, they lose mucus content. To adapt to the water loss, snails can only use parts of their foot muscles to crawl. This saves them mucus. This type of crawling is called jumping. We can notice the jumping process if we notice the broken slime trails.

What have the snails taught me this week?

This week, Mr. Snail has taught me to be myself. I was observing a snail crossing a corner of a road. I wondered, ‘what if someone stepped on them while walking?’. After repeated thoughts, I realized that I was doubting nature. I was unnecessarily scared of the natural ways of living in the snail world.

Mr. Snail taught me to trust my form and the way I naturally function. Sometimes, we look at other people and compare the way we are formed or how we behave in situations. However, it is important to remember that we are perfect for our life circumstances. If we allow ourselves to be natural in the ways we work, our problems might not even look like problems. As Mr. Snail might have, we might consider our challenges our route in life, that’s all!

My guardian angels remind me of the innate wisdom we possess as humans. They show me the ways snails use their wisdom to live their lives and remind me to do the same.

I guess, to be wise, we must remember that we are wise :).

-Don’t be stranger,

Pranita Rao

Science Communicator | Author | Energy worker

P.S. - To respect the content in this post, I humbly request readers to look at snails and angels as sacred beings that are equal to human beings.

Reference: Snails and Slugs (Gastropoda). www.molluscs.at. https://www.molluscs.at/gastropoda/index.html?/gastropoda/dormancy.html