Snail Hits Predator with Its Shell
November 17, 2016 - Two subspecies of snails defend themselves from predatory attacks by swinging their shells. In a study released by
Scientific Reports, an international team of researchers observed two types of snails—
Ezohelix gaines from Japan and Karaftohelix selskii from Russia—hitting carabid beetles with their shells and knocking them over. Most snails withdraw into their shells and wait until their attackers leave them alone.
The researchers suggest that the type of shell and the snails’ defense strategies are interrelated. They also conclude that interactions with predators play a significant role on how snails evolved to defend themselves.
This Japanese snail species Ezohelix gainesi meets a predator, the carabid beetle.
The snail defends itself by wielding a very special weapon: its home!
An international team of researchers discovered that along with the Ezohelix gainesi, the Karaftohelix selskii in the far east region of Russia also swings its shell against predators.
Other snail species withdraw into their shells and wait until their attackers leave them alone.
The researchers suggest that the type of shell and the snails’ defense strategies are interrelated.
They also conclude that interactions with predators play a significant role in how snails evolved to defend themselves.
