Snails belong to a group of highly varied animals called mollusks (phylum Mollusca), which also includes clams, mussels, and oysters. The first snail-like mollusk lived on the seafloo… See more

The size of a snail’s shell doesn’t necessarily reflect its occupant. Some species have a shell large enough to hide entirely within it, while others have one too small. A dr… See more

Some shells are sporty, with bands of color, like the Cuban Painted Snails, Polymita picta, that defy anyone to pass by without stopping to admire their beauty. Most snails, thou… See more

During its early stages, the shell undergoes a complicated action known as torsion that curls it into a spiral. Torsion to the right (most common) or left is specific to each species. T… See more