Snail: Those around me who don’t live long are all too impatient.

I am Dong Dong Meow

Talking animals are so fun!

This issue of Animal Science

We get close to the talking snail in 60 seconds!

In the wetland beside the field, Dongdong Miao found a snail crawling slowly.

Dongdongmeow: "Hey, little guy, why are you always so slow?"

The snail twirled its tentacles and said, "Too fast is not elegant."

Dongdongmeow: "It's so slow that I can see the slime marks you left behind."

Snail: "This is called leaving a trace. In life, one must always have a sense of existence."

Dongdongmeow: "I give up. This excuse is amazing."

Snails are a "regular visitor" in humid environments.

They move slowly, relying on muscle contraction to propel their bodies and secreting mucus to move forward steadily.

Although they look slow, they actually have amazing endurance.

Snails are active at night, searching for tender leaves and fruits on the edges of fields and in wetlands, posing a certain threat to certain crops.

Dongdongmiao stared at the snail's tentacles: "Your tentacles are really special."

Snail: "Of course, this is our sensor."

Dongdong Meow: "Your eyes are so small, can you see the road?"

The snail waved its tentacles and said, "It's okay if I can't see. I rely on my sense of touch to get around."

Snail mucus is not only a tool for sliding, but also helps moisturize and prevent traumatic infections.

Although they are considered pests in the fields, in nature their slow pace also maintains the ecological balance of wetlands and provides a food source for other organisms.

One day, Dongdongmiao saw a snail crawling "quickly" into the depths of the grass.

Dongdongmeow: "Hey, why are you running so fast today?"

The snail took a deep breath and whispered, "The bird was staring at me in the sky just now. Let's find a place to hide."

Dongdongmeow: "Are you humming Jay Chou's song 'I Want to Climb Up Step by Step', but the rhythm is a beat slower?"

Snail: "Mister Meow, you don't have to be fast, just hide well."

Dongdongmeow: "It seems that your slowness is wise."

Popular Science Knowledge

1. The snail’s “slow and steady” approach is a survival strategy.

Although snails move slowly, it helps to reduce energy consumption, and slow movement reduces the risk of snails being discovered by natural enemies. Their slowness is not incompetence, but one of their survival strategies.

2. Snails have poor eyesight but have antennae as perception “radar”.

The eyes of snails are located on the top of their upper tentacles and are very small, so their vision is underdeveloped. However, the upper tentacles of snails can detect obstacles in front of them, which can help snails avoid obstacles in front of them. The lower tentacles of snails have the functions of smell and touch. These two pairs of tentacles are sensitive and flexible, which can help snails understand the surrounding environment and survive in a complex natural environment.

3. The snail's mucus helps it slide and protects its body.

The snail's mucus is not only a tool for sliding, but also their protective "armor". Mucus can help snails stay moist and prevent their bodies from drying out. It can also protect their soft bodies from external damage and even prevent wound infection.

Review expert: Zhang Niya, associate professor of the Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Huazhong Agricultural University

Produced by: Dongdongmeow