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What happens when a snail sheds its shell?

2024-01-15 15:52:51 78

Snails are mollusks whose shells are made of calcium and protein. The shell of a snail is not like a hard shell that covers the outside of the body, but a shell that grows on the surface of their body to protect their soft body parts. Therefore, a snail does not turn into another creature when it sheds its shell.

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When a snail sheds its shell, its body appears soft and fragile, exposing it to external dangers and the threat of predation. In this case, the snail seeks a secluded, moist place to repair and regenerate its shell. The snail secretes a substance called "snail slime" from around its body, and then uses this slime and other substances to gradually rebuild, harden, and form a new shell.

During this process, the new shells they form will gradually become harder and gradually regain their original protective properties. It's worth noting that this process can take a while, and the snail will be very fragile and vulnerable during this time. Therefore, during this period, the snails keep a low profile and try to avoid being exposed to vulnerability to predation.

Generally speaking, snails will look for a safe and hidden environment to regenerate and repair their new shells after they shed their shells. In the process, they do not transform into other types of creatures.


animal tags: snails