Page 65 - World of Animals - Issue #33

Genitals
Oviduct
Sperm is stored Eggs are laid
Sexually mature snails carry
sperm from multiple partners,
keeping the cells alive for up to
two years within their bodies.
Giant snails are
hermaphrodites, with male
and female sets of genitals
both located behind the snail’s
head, just behind the tentacles.
Tentacles
Land snails’ top tentacles contain
crude eyes that can detect light
changes, while the bottom pair
are used for smelling. Both sets
can be quickly retracted if the
snail senses danger.
Shell
Giant African land snails keep their
internal organs safe within calcium
carbonate shells, and toughen them
up by consuming calcium-rich foods.
Stomach The shell is conical and usually
spirals in a clockwise direction.
Heart
Radula
The radula is similar to a tongue, but is covered in microscopic
teeth. Giant African land snails use it like a file, grinding down their
food before it enters the oesophagus.
Radulae are made of chitin, a strong and flexible natural material
found in a variety of molluscs, crustaceans and fungi. Chitin’s
useful qualities have also been put to use in important man-made
products like surgical thread and biodegradable plastic.
Closest family
Closely related to the giant African land snail are…
Rosy wolfsnail Triton’s trumpet Banana slug
Another invasive If you thought giant Slugs might not have
species, these African land snails shells like snails, but
cannibal snails were big, check out they’re still gastropods
were released on their ocean-dwelling and are therefore
Hawaii in an attempt cousins! Triton’s close relatives.
to eliminate giant trumpets are massive Banana slugs are
African land snails. sea snails with shells among the most
Old age Their arrival turned that can reach 60 impressive of the
Pregnant snails pick opportune 3-5 years out to be disastrous; centimetres (24 bunch – their yellow
times throughout the year to The land snail’s life revolves around the wolfsnails preyed inches) in length, three bodies can reach
lay their eggs. A single batch reproduction, so it dies shortly aer it on indigenous times the size of the 25 centimetres (9.8
can contain over 300 eggs. loses the ability to procreate. gastropods instead. largest land snail. inches) in length.
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