Quote: EllieJP @ January 26 2012, 11:24 AM GMTThanks random website... the internet is marvellous...
Even though snails and slugs are similar creatures, snails cannot leave their shells (the shell is a part of its body), and so a slug is a different creature altogether, and not just a shell-less snail.
There are several reasons why slugs don't have shells. One big reason is that slugs mostly like in the ground. Having a shell would make it hard for them to tunnel and dig! Another benefit is that slugs have an easier time finding food than their shelled snail cousins: Snails have to live only in places where they can find and eat a lot of calcium to help them maintain their hard shells. Slugs, who don't have this concern, can live in different places and eat different things!
Ah, didn't think of calcium, interesting. Wonder how many slugs versus snails are comparatively killed? I take ages to get anywhere when it's raining because I have to move all the snails I see to safety. Do slugs really tunnel underground?
