While snails are known for being notoriously slow, slimy is their second name. These gastropod mollusks are known for producing slimy bodily secretions meant to prevent their exposed soft tissues from drying out and to aid them in locomotion. Call them slow, but when a snail's survival instinct kicks in, snails are quite fast to produce a foamy, bubbly secretion to protect themselves from threatening situations.
Approaching Invasive Enemies
Slow and steady wins the race, but when predators are around, the snail won't likely be able to out run them. Retracting into the shell may be an option with larger predators, but with smaller predators, the snail will have to resort to plan B. For instance, when dealing with ants, retracting in the shell won't likely help as the ants can crawl inside. In this case, foaming may be helpful because the bubbly mess deters them from entering.
Sensing Harmful Substances
Snails have a good sense of taste and smell and can smell a leaf of lettuce from several feet away. They will purposefully move in its direction to munch. However, when snails detect something unpleasant or repulsive, they'll be quick to react accordingly. When offered a piece of lettuce covered with a foul-tasting substance such as acetic acid, for example, snails will start to foam to protect themselves from contact with the unpleasant substance.
Dehydration Threat Ahead
While slime prevents a snail's body from dehydrating, bubbling can also be used as a defense mechanism. Perhaps the most dramatic display of this is seen when gardeners purposely sprinkle salt on the snail as a form of pest control. The salt triggers a process known as osmosis where water is rapidly pulled out of the snail's cells. Slime and air is pumped out to help the snail protect itself, but unfortunately, if enough salt is poured, the snail will dry out and shrivel up.
An Opportunity to Drift
While land snails use bubbles for protection, some ocean-dwelling snails get a bit more creative. In this case, snails, members of the family Janthinidae, secrete mucus and trap air inside for the purpose of creating bubbles that stick together to form rafts. These flotation devices allowed the snails to evolve from bottom dwellers to surface surfers, giving them a great survival advantage -- easy access to a favorite food source, the floating jellyfish.
References
- The Living World of Molluscs: Snails
- Bavarian Academy for Nature Conservation and Landscape Management: Snails
- UCSB Science Line: Why Do Snails Bubble When Salt Gets on Them?
- Manawatu Standard: Foaming Snails
- Royal Horticultural Society: In Defence of Snails
- Science Daily: In Bubble-Rafting Snails, the Eggs Came First
Photo Credits
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Writer Bio
Adrienne Farricelli has been writing for magazines, books and online publications since 2005. She specializes in canine topics, previously working for the American Animal Hospital Association and receiving certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Her articles have appeared in "USA Today," "The APDT Chronicle of the Dog" and "Every Dog Magazine." She also contributed a chapter in the book " Puppy Socialization - An Insider's Guide to Dog Behavioral Fitness" by Caryl Wolff.
