table of contents
- Slimy fellows
- Different ages
- Nudibranchs and snails
- Life expectancy of individual snail species
- Natural predators
- frequently asked Questions
Snails are very old. The ancestors of today's known snail species lived in the seas more than 500 million years ago. The lifespan of individual species is very different.
In a nutshell
- need moisture to live
- Age depends on size, habitat and type
- Shell snails have a longer life expectancy than slugs
Slimy fellows
Snails (Gastropoda) belong to the group of molluscs (Mollusca). They populate the most varied of habitats on earth. Some are at home in the salty sea, some species live in fresh water, and some live on land. They are mostly nocturnal. All snail species need moisture to live. In general, the molluscs are divided into nudibranchs and shell snails. There are various differences here, including the expected service life. However, there are other factors that determine how old a snail will get.
Note: Nudibranchs, especially the Spanish slug, are a horror for everyone
Hobby gardener. In one night they can do a whole Vegetable patch to eat bald.Different ages
The life expectancy of the individual snail species is quite different. Various factors are decisive in determining how old a snail is. This includes
- habitat
- way of life
- Size of the snail
- Predators
As a rule, an information between nine and twelve months is given, whereby representatives of smaller snail species do not live as old as larger ones. Life expectancy can also vary within a species. This depends, among other things, on the weather and local conditions.
Note: A snail covers a distance of one millimeter in one second.
Nudibranchs and snails
Compared to slugs, shell snails have a longer life expectancy and can reach a very considerable age. Because of their existing snail shell, they can survive some difficult living conditions well. This offers protection from
- Dehydration
- cold winters
- Snail withdraws
- closes the house with a lime cover
- survives several months
Nudibranchs have it a bit more difficult. Most adult snails rarely survive very cold winters. In mild weather, however, survival in frost-free soil is possible. Often only they hibernate Eggsthat have been deposited in the ground. The young hatch in spring and reach sexual maturity in summer. Shortly afterwards, they lay eggs. Most nudibranchs rarely get older than one to two years.
Life expectancy of individual snail species
According to NABU, the oldest snail is a Roman snail (Helix pomatia) that lived in a terrarium. She was 30 years old. In the wild, representatives of this species can reach an impressive six to ten years of age. There are also species that also have a good life expectancy and others that are very short-lived:
| Snail species | Maximum life expectancy |
|---|---|
| Field snail (Deroceras reticulatum) | 1 year |
| Apple snail (Ampullariidae) | 3 to 4 years |
| Garden cepaea (Cepaea hortensis) | up to 5 years |
| Great agate snail (Achatina fulica) | ten years |
| Grove cepaea (Cepaea nemoralis) | 8 years |
| Ramshorn snail (Planorbarius corneus) | 3 years |
| Red slug (Arion rufus) | up to 3 years |
| Black snail (Limax cinereoniger) | 2 years |
| Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris) | 1 to 2 years in mild areas |
| Tiger snail (Limax maximus) | 3 years |
| Dwarf snails | 1 year |
Natural predators
Many snails sometimes do not reach their normal life expectancy. They are a real delicacy for their natural predators such as hedgehogs, mice, martens and birds. In addition, very cold winters or prolonged drought can destroy the molluscs. In addition, some species of snails are not welcome in the garden, especially those voracious Nudibranchs. You will be targeted there fights.
Note: Different types of snail such as the agate snail or Roman snail can be kept in terrariums at room temperature. Here they have a longer life expectancy than normal.
frequently asked Questions
There are also poisonous snails, but these are mainly found only in the tropical seas. Among them is the cone snail (Conidae). It produces the strongest, most famous natural poison. In this country there are no poisonous animals among land and freshwater snails. However, after contact with them, hands should be washed thoroughly.
Snails are barely visible from autumn to spring. You are looking for a place to hibernate in good time. Since slugs do not have a house, they hide in the frost-free ground. The situation is different with the so-called housing snails. These look for a protected place, for example under thick bushes in the moss. On the other hand, the two millimeter large field snail is active in damp leaves or under the snow cover even in frosty temperatures.
As a rule, almost all land and freshwater snails lay eggs. The boys then hatch out of them. Depending on the type of snail, the eggs are white or transparent and have a diameter of three to four millimeters. After mating, up to 400 eggs are laid in clutches of 30 to 70 eggs. Since the molluscs are hermaphroditic, both animals are deposited. Depending on the weather, storage can take place up to twice a year, in spring and autumn.
Yes. Animals that have already hatched have a small embryonic housing. In adult animals, this is often still noticeable as a tip. The housing grows with the young animal. If the snail then stops growing, the house will not continue to grow either.