Snails are among the animals little known to most people. In general, thinking of them results in the image of a small being with a slimy body and a shell on its back, but the truth is that there are different types of snails, with multiple features.
Whether marine or terrestrial, these gastropods are a mystery to many, although some species are a pest for human activity. Do you want to know the types of snails and their names? Then you can't miss this article on our site!
Types of sea snails
Did you know that there are marine snails? That's how it is! Sea snails, like land and freshwater snails, are gastropod molluscs This means that they belong to one of the oldest animal phyla on the planet, since its existence is recognized from the Cambrian period. In fact, many of the seashells that we can find are actually some of the types of sea snails that we will mention below.
Sea snails, also called prosobranchs, are characterized by a soft and flexible body, as well as a conical or spiral. There are thousands of species, so they have different types of food. However, they usually feed on plankton, algae, corals and traces of flora that they take from the rocks. Others are carnivorous animals and consume clams or small marine animals.
Some species breathe through gills, while others have a primitive lung that allows them to take oxygen from the air. Here are some of the types of sea snails and their names:
1. Conus magus
Called magic cone, inhabits the Pacific and Indigo oceans. This species is known because its sting is poisonous, and sometimes lethal, for humans. Its venom has 50,000 different components, which are called conotoxic Currently, the Conus magus is used in the pharmaceutical industry, since the components of its venom are isolated to make drugs that relieve pain in patients with cancer and HIV, among others.
two. Patella vulgata
Known as common limpet, or Patella vulgata, is a type of sea snail endemic to western European waters. It is common to find it attached to rocks on the shores or shallow waters, which is why it is among the species most used for human consumption.
3. Buccinum undatum
It is a mollusk present in the Atlantic Ocean, it can be found in the waters of the United Kingdom, France and North America, where it prefers inhabit areas with temperatures of 29 degrees. The species does not tolerate exposure to air, so their bodies desiccate easily when they are pulled from the water or washed ashore by waves.
4. Haliotis geigeri
Known as abalone or abalone, the molluscs belonging to the Haliotidae family are appreciated in the culinary world all over the world. Haliotis geigeri is found in the waters surrounding São Tomé and Príncipe. It is characterized by presenting an oval shell with several turns that form a spiral. It lives attached to rocks, where it feeds on plankton and algae.
5. Littorina littorea
Also called periwinkle, it is a mollusk that lives in the Atlantic Ocean, being found in abundance in the areas surrounding South America. Northern and Western Europe area. They are characterized by having a smooth shell that forms a spiral towards the most protruding part. They stick to rocks, but it is also common to find them on the bottom of boats.
Types of land snails
The land snails are the best known to humans. They are characterized by a soft body that is more visible than their marine counterparts, in addition to the inevitable shell. Most species have lungs, although a few of the snails have a gill system, so although they are considered terrestrial, they must live in humid habitats.
They have a mucus or slime that comes off the soft body, which allows them to move across any surface, no matter whether it is smooth or rough. They also have small antennae at the end of their heads and a very primitive brain. Here are some of the types of land snails:
1. Helix pomatia
Called Roman snail, it is the typical garden snail and is widely distributed in Europe. It reaches about 4 centimeters in height and its color varies in different brown tones. The Helix pomatia is herbivorous, feeding on pieces of fruit, leaves, sap and flowers. Its habits are nocturnal and during the winter it remains almost completely inactive.
two. Helix aspersa
Helix aspersa, called common garden snail, is found in many parts of the world, as it can be found in North America North and South, Oceania, Europe, South Africa and part of the British Isles. It is herbivorous and is usually found in gardens and crops. However, it can become a plague for human activity, as it attacks crops, as a result of which the pesticides used to combat them seriously contaminate the environment.
3. Achatina fulica
Among the types of land snails, the giant African snail (Achatina fulica) is a species native to the coast of Tanzania and Kenya, but has been introduced in different tropical areas of the world. As a result of this forced introduction, it has become a plague.
Measures between 10 and 30 centimeters in length, presenting a spiral shell with brown and yellow stripes, while its soft body has the typical brown coloration. It has nocturnal habits and a varied diet: plants, carrion, bones, algae, carrion, lichens and even rocks, which it consumes in search of calcium.
4. Rumina decollata
Commonly known as conch (Rumina decollata), it is a garden mollusk that can be found in Europe, part of Africa and North America. North. It is carnivorous and consumes garden snails, which is why it is frequently used as a biological pest control. Like other species of land snails, their activity increases at night. Also, it prefers rainy seasons.
5. Otala punctata
The snail cabrilla is endemic to the western Mediterranean area, however, today it can be found in various South American countries, in addition to the United States and Algeria. It is a common species in gardens, it is characterized by presenting a shell with a defined spiral in brown tones with white dots. The Otala punctata is herbivorous. It feeds on leaves, flowers, fruit pieces, and plant debris.
Types of freshwater snails
Among the snails that live outside the sea, there are several thousand species that live in the fresh waters of rivers, lakes and lagoons Similarly, they are among the types of aquarium snails, that is, they can be raised as pets, as long as they are provided with adequate conditions to lead a life similar to that they would have in the wild.
Here are some of the types of freshwater snails and their names:
1. Potamopyrgus antipodarum
Known as New Zealand mud snail, is a species of freshwater snail endemic to New Zealand, but can now be found in Australia, Europe and North America. It has a long shell with a well-defined spire, and a white to gray body. It feeds on plant debris, algae and diatoms.
two. Pomacea canaliculata
Gives the common name of apple snail and is among the types of aquarium snailmost common. It was originally distributed in the temperate waters of South America, although today it can be found in fresh waters as far away as Japan, Australia and India.
It has a varied diet, since it consumes algae that it finds at the bottom of rivers and lakes, debris of any kind, fish and some crustaceans. The species can become a pest for humans, as it consumes cultivated rice plants and is host to a parasite that affects rodents.
3. Leptoxis plicata
Leptoxis plicata, known as plicata snail (Plicata rocksnail), is a freshwater species endemic to Alabama (United States), but currently only recorded from Locust Fork, one of the tributaries of the Black Warrior River. The species is critically endangered. Its main threats are the changes caused in the natural habitat as a result of human activity, such as agriculture, mining and the diversion of the riverbed.
4. Bythinella batalleri
Although it does not have a known common name, this species of snail inhabits the fresh waters of Spain,where it is recorded in 63 different locations. It is found in rivers and springs. It is classified as a species of least concern, since various rivers where it lived have dried up as a result of pollution and aquifer overexploitation.
5. Henrigirardia wienini
The species does not have a common name in Spanish, but it is a gastropod mollusk endemic to fresh groundwater in the valley of Hérault, south of France. The species is considered critically endangered and there is a possibility that it may have become extinct in the wild. The number of copies in existence is unknown.
More on snails
If you've been wanting more, don't hesitate to continue browsing our site to find out what do snails eat orhow snails are born and reproduce . Find out everything about them!
