Snails interesting facts. Who drinks with their feet. Enemies in the wild
The largest representative of land molluscs - the giant African snail Achatina is covered with pimply, wrinkled skin. The snail shell is massive and thick-walled. Respiration is cutaneous, gills are absent.
Two pairs of small horns serve as sense organs for the giant snail. Eyes are located at the ends of the first pair of horns.
The snail reaches a length of 15-20 cm and has a conical shell. The shell itself can be twisted both counterclockwise and in the opposite direction. In old African Achatina, 7 to 9 turns can be counted on the shell.
The color of the snail shell is different, but usually brown with alternating dark and light stripes. The body is gray to dark brown.
Life span of the African Achatina snail: at home 5-9 years.
The weight of the snail is about 250 grams.
Nutrition and feeding of the African snail Achatina
Achatina snail nutrition occurs with the help of a "tongue" seated with horn spikes.
Feeding the Achatina snail:
they eat rotting vegetation, carrion, mushrooms, algae, lichen, citrus bark. They feed mainly at night, in the evening. Its diet includes more than 500 different types of plants, vegetables, beans, pumpkin, melon, lettuce, potatoes, onions, carrots, sunflowers, eucalyptus, etc.
Achatina are nocturnal, although in wet weather they often crawl out during the day. If there is not enough food and humidity decreases, snails burrow into the ground and hibernate. The mouth of the shell clogs with a film of mucus.
The tropical African snail can even survive frost and snow, but loses up to 60% of its own weight during hibernation.
Reproduction of African snails Achatina
Hermaphrodite. One Achatina snail lays eggs, about 100-400 small eggs, each of which is 4.5-5.5 mm in diameter.
Over the course of a lifetime, Achatina lays up to 5 mln. eggs.
Mollusks are very unpretentious. However, an appropriate correct care and maintenance of Achatina snails. When something does not suit them, for example, they do not like the conditions of detention, they can easily hibernate. Achatina do not like dry air and temperatures above +30 and below +16.
Some Achatina domestic snails with their hibernations - they are trying to achieve, for example, cucumbers or bananas, which they love very much.
Interesting facts about African Achatina snails
In medicine, Achatina snails are used as donors of nerve tissue for the treatment of human brain diseases.
Achatina snail horns It's the nose that's turned inside out. All olfactory receptors located inside the human nose are elongated in snails into horns.
Snails do not see, but they distinguish between light and darkness.
A snail has about 25 thousand teeth, which are arranged in the form of a "grater". With the help of this arrangement of teeth, they grind food.
In Africa, Achatina snails are eaten because they consider their meat to be delicious. In the USA, they are feared, as they can very quickly destroy hectares of planted crops and cause a national disaster.
In Europe, these large snails are ideal pets for children and adults.
The most amazing thing about African domestic snails is that they can sing. Naturally not like birds, their singing is more like a squeak. You can hear the singing or squeaking of Achatina when they get scared and begin to frantically hide in their shells.
The content of the article:
These are some unearthly, cosmic creatures. Looking at them, you can sit and meditate for hours. They evoke incredible feelings. Some people say they are gross and nasty, while others like them a lot. Do not rush to draw conclusions, weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes you get to know them better enough and your opinion changes.
Someone does not have enough time for pets, but they want to communicate with a living being. Many people suffer from allergies, so they also cannot get a pet for the soul. These are the creatures that can solve these problems. And, by the way, whether to start them or not is a purely personal matter - it's up to you to decide.
The history of the distribution of giant snails
Land gastropod mollusks are distributed in almost all continents of the globe. Their diversity is amazing. And this is expressed not only in color, the shape of their shells, but also in size. Achatina are giants in the world of snails. Some individuals reach from 28 to 30 cm in length. These are tropical inhabitants, lovers of humid climatic conditions. They are mainly found on the mainland of Eurasia and the African continent. They say that Achatina appeared and gradually adapted to environmental conditions in East Africa, the island of Madagascar for a very long time. Gradually, they spread along the entire coast of the Indian Ocean, and then the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Achatina also got to the warm regions of the United States of America, where they multiplied very quickly, causing harm not only to plants, but also to the homes of Americans. The snails ate the plaster that people's dwellings were covered with. This was all because they didn't have enough calcium to develop their shells. Since these mollusks reproduce very quickly and eat a lot, a whole disaster has begun in this country. People were forced to take appropriate measures to combat the Achatina invasion in order to prevent natural changes due to the damage they caused. Now in America, these snails are banned, even as pets. For their maintenance, you can be jailed for up to five years. In countries with cold environmental conditions, they are not dangerous for agricultural land. Because they simply cannot survive there. The temperature at which Achatina can feel good should be at least 22 degrees Celsius all year round.
At home, Achatina are not a "natural disaster" and do not bring so many problems, because their numbers are regulated by another snail - "partulidae", which eats not only plants, but also its own kind. In fact, if snails live in stable numbers, they are beneficial. These are "forest cleaners" who eat decomposed parts of plants and their fruits, animal excrement, etc. Only young specimens of gastropods can harm. They eat not only fresh leaves and shoots, but also the ovaries of various fruits.
In almost all countries of their natural habitat, these mollusks are eaten. In some countries, they are even considered medicinal. So that also regulates their numbers. In Japan, there are entire farms for their breeding. They are considered a real delicacy and many different culinary dishes are prepared from them. They are also made in Belgium. Snails of a certain age are suitable for food. Adults are not tasty.
In countries with cold environmental conditions in which Achatina cannot survive, oddly enough, they are brought home as pets.
Types of Achatina
- Achatina fulica. In captivity, it grows 20 to 22 cm. The color of the shell and legs is varied. Shell pigmentation: orange, brown, black. Not whimsical and easy to maintain. Therefore, it is this type that is most planted. Life expectancy is 5–8 years. They breed well. They lay up to 290 eggs. More slow. They take turns eating so as not to interfere with each other.
- Achatina reticulum. Breeders are happy to keep this type of snail. The color of her legs is not uniform: the head and neck are darker (brown or blackish), and the edge of the legs is light. Drawing on the sink in the form of dots or stripes. Among the species there are also albinos. They are smaller but very pretty. More curious and sociable in their behavior. They grow faster than others. They can lay up to 300 eggs.
- Achatina immaculata. A distinctive feature of their color is a strip that starts from the head and goes along the leg, and a shell rim of pink or light purple tones. Color shades are very variable. Among the species and colors there is a panther. The content does not require special care. Clutch up to 200 eggs.
- Achatina albopicta. Outwardly, its shell is similar to Achatina reticulum, but smaller, up to 16 cm. At the end, the shell has a pink tip, and along the rim it is white or yellow. Differs in great gluttony.
- Achatina was irradiated. Its shell has a distinctive color with a yellowish tint, which is why the species is called "lemon". They are small in size, up to 6–8 cm. In cultivation and care, they do not differ from other snails. It does not lay eggs, but gives birth to live snails up to 28 pieces.
- Brown Achatina. Looks like a fulick. It differs only in the structure of the shell, the turns on it are more round. It is somewhat bulkier. When in contact with a person, she is not at all shy. More rare in snail collections. Contains the same as fulica.
- Achatina Achatina (common Achatina or tiger). The largest type of shellfish. Under natural conditions, they reach up to 30 cm, and in apartment conditions up to 28 cm. Coloring depending on the subspecies. The central tone color is light yellow or orange. Uneven stripes go along the shell: wider or narrower, even and broken. Their color is brown or black. In nature, the color of their legs is rich black, in captivity, lighter. They live from 7 to 10 years. Calm, not active. They like to sleep in a dark house. Ready to lay eggs after two to 2-3 years of life. The eggs are larger.
Features of the behavior of Achatina
These are the perfect pets. You don’t need to walk with them, they don’t need to be combed out, they will never bite or scratch you, they are not allergic. Moreover, in addition to their cosmetic benefits, they also treat the nervous system. When you watch or communicate with Achatina, it kind of fascinates and calms. It is very pleasant to contact them. When you pay attention to them, after a while, they recognize their master. The owner of the snail is distinguished by the structure of the skin. They never hide, reach out to him with their horns and even know his movements.
They love to sit on their hands for a long time, to look at everything around. They stretch their long necks so bizarrely that they look like horses. Achatina are moisture-loving and love to swim. But this does not mean that they need to be immersed in a basin of water and they will swim there. They need to be sprayed with water from a spray bottle or planted in a small plate with a small amount of liquid.
Achatina diseases
Snail breeding
Achatina are hermaphrodites. Each snail itself determines whether it will be a girl or a boy. On the side of the cheek of the snail there is a small dot-hole. When they meet, they begin to embrace and, with the help of an organ that emerges from this hole, they exchange seminal fluid. When fertilization has occurred, even both snails can lay eggs. For reproduction, an individual of the same species is needed. If the snail lives alone, it can also lay fatty eggs, but none of them will hatch.
If we are going to start Achatina, then for this we need a container. You can keep them in glass and plastic containers. Their size must be increased as the "pet" grows, based on one adult individual of at least 5 liters. The arrangement of a terrarium for snails must include certain rules.
It needs a backing. It can be soil that does not contain fertilizer. Coconut shavings or cover forest moss are best. You can sew a special non-woven mattress, and a synthetic winterizer is put inside. He is very comfortable. Firstly, it does not need to be changed like soil, but it is enough to rinse it under water and squeeze it out. So it will already contain the necessary moisture for snails. The base with which you decide to cover the bottom of the container is sprayed every day with water from a spray bottle.
You can put an additional source of moisture, a plate where a little water is poured, depending on the size of the snail, from 2 to 4 mm. If you fill it more than necessary, then Achatina may choke.
After all, the spiracle of the mollusk is located directly under the shell. Many people incorrectly think that he has a nose that is on his head and that he breathes like a human. On his muzzle there are two pairs of horns: the upper ones are the eyes, and the lower ones are the tentacles with which he orients himself in space. He finds his friends, food, finds out where it is dangerous for him and where it is safe.
You can decorate Achatina's home with fancy wooden snags. They should not be thin and sharp. Before organizing the interior, they need to be scalded with hot water. The snails will "travel" on them and eat the bark of the tree.
Additional lighting is not required for snails, as they live by burrowing into the rainforest litter. But they love warmth. If your apartment is cold in winter, you can additionally heat the terrarium. One way is to fill a small plastic bottle with hot water and wrap it in newspaper so that the Achatina do not get burned. The bottle is placed in the center of the container.
In a cold room, it is better to keep them in a plastic rather than a glass terrarium. After all, glass cools faster, it has low thermal conductivity. Do not forget about cleaning the container in which the snail lives. This must be done at least once a week. Its walls are washed with a damp sponge and the substrate is replaced. Change the water in the bowl for bathing and drinking regularly, every two days.
Achatina feed on plant debris. Don't put too much food in, it might start to stink. Little is better, but often. You can feed it with any vegetables and fruits, except for citrus fruits: cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, apples, cabbage, bananas, peppers, etc. Eating colorful vegetables and fruits, the Achatina shell will acquire their shade. Many breeders claim that Achatina have their own food preferences. For example, they are very fond of cucumbers and bananas. And some individuals are so spoiled that if they are not given their favorite food, they will completely refuse to eat and fall into hibernation.
A great delicacy for these molluscs is paper, but not waxed. They also eat cereals, for example: hercules. They love to eat the juicy bitterness of aloe. But before eating, you need to cut off its spines and cut it in half. Achatina need calcium to build a good, strong shell. For an additional source of it, you can buy mineral cuttlefish shell at the pet store, put ordinary chalk or scalded eggshells.
Achatina are very fond of "bath" procedures, under a warm stream of water. You can lightly wash their shell with a brush.
They cannot salt and sugar, as well as various human dishes. Direct sunlight is contraindicated. Like all living beings, a draft is harmful. They should not be kept in cold rooms.
Achatina are very inquisitive. They love to climb on the owner and look at everything around. But when you take your pet, you need to do it carefully. The edge of a snail's shell is called the growth zone and is soft. If you press down a little more, you can break it. They take the mollusks under the leg, starting from the head. Try to hold them by the sink - don't drop them. Falling from a great height can damage their "house".
Application of Achatina
Achatina are used not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology. Various products are made from them, which bring a healing, restoring and rejuvenating effect. Their mucus is rich in the presence of collagen, which gives impetus to excellent tissue regeneration and renewal. Scientists have found that live snails bring the best effect, and not factory-made products from them. Their natural mucus contains not only collagen, but vitamins and allantoin. Breeders in the city of Chile noticed that after a lot of "talking" with Achatina, the skin on the hands becomes smoother, radiant and softer.
Cosmetologists, having learned about such wonderful properties of snails, decided to apply the innovation in beauty salons. Experimenting gradually, cosmetologists began to come up with various procedures that brought a visible therapeutic effect. Achatino-cosmetology helps in reducing wrinkles, has a resolving effect on various types of scars, scars, brightens age spots and freckles, and reduces unpleasant rashes.
One of the effective procedures used in salons is massage. If you have these wonderful creatures, you can carry out such manipulations at home.
They do it like this:
- first of all, you need to wash yourself with natural soap or herbal infusions;
- the leg of the snail is washed under running water;
- the face is smeared with moisturizing natural juice of aloe or cucumber, for better gliding of the mollusk;
- then Achatina sits on the face and is left to crawl there for 15 minutes;
- Mucus at the end of the procedure is left for 20 minutes, and then washed off.
If you do not want to breed Achatina, and they postponed laying, then do not worry, you can use this to your advantage. Eggs need to be collected, washed and placed in the freezer for a couple of weeks. After freezing, you can crush them and eat them as an additional source of protein and trace elements.
Achatina can grow up to 2 kg in weight. They see it in their own way. Scientists claim that snails distinguish between light and darkness. Their teeth are in the form of a grater and there are more than 24 thousand of them. Mollusks are deaf, they communicate with the help of the organs of touch - by touch. They can crawl on very sharp and thin surfaces, and will not get hurt, their mucus serves as their protection. When the snail "runs", it develops a speed of 6-8 cm per minute. Achatina meat contains more protein than a chicken egg.
Their nervous system consists of approximately 20,000 neurons. Nowadays, molluscs are used as donors of nerve tissue for the treatment of brain diseases. The first successful experiments were carried out on rats.
Purchasing giant snails
Achatina is best purchased from breeder collectors. They are good with types. You will know which variety you bought. Experts will explain how to care for the snail. Adults of giant mollusks cost from 500 rubles, small ones - from 50 rubles. Pure albinos will cost more than 1000 rubles.
For more information about the content of Achatina, see here:
On Earth, there are a lot of wild animals with their own oddities. Indeed, many do not even think that none other than an ordinary frog has many interesting features.
Riddle: who can drink with their feet
The frog is an amazing amphibian that does not drink water in the usual way, but sucks it up through the skin, being in the water with its paws. That is why the skin plays a big role in the life of a frog. Frogs need to be near bodies of water, otherwise they may die. Thomson's experiment shows how much water the frog absorbs through the skin. Thomson took a dried frog and weighed it, the weight of the frog was 95 grams. Then he wrapped the frog in a wet cloth, and an hour later it weighed 125 grams. Water is absorbed and sweated out by frogs through the skin. Thanks to the skin, in amphibians, the class of which includes frogs, gas exchange occurs. A frog can live in a closed tin can with a humid atmosphere for 20-40 days, even if there is no air access to the lungs. A frog can both drink with its foot and breathe. Being in the water, it completely switches to skin respiration.
Who drinks with their feet? frog.
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How not to envy the measured and calm way of life of these creatures. Personal apartments are always with you and there is no need to rush home. Travel to your pleasure without rushing and wherever you want.
We present you interesting facts about snails.
Did you know that snails are one of the oldest creatures on the planet? It turns out that these animals lived 600 million years ago (!).
Snails are small in size. This also applies to their gray matter - the brain. However, even with a tiny brain, they can think and make decisions. They are based solely on the experience of the lived time. In total, they can live up to 15 years.
Did you know that snails are deaf creatures? They do not have organs of hearing, which is why they do not hear, and also cannot express themselves.
This is one of the animals that does not make any sounds for the entire cycle of life. Everything is based on tactile sensations - touches.
There is the largest representative of snails. It was found in 1976.
It weighed almost 2 kg and had a length of 15 inches.
If you want to poison a snail near you, just give it a "sweet" or "salty" death - salt and sugar.
Snails that live in gardens are the fastest - 55 m/h. The rest are much slower.
It turns out that snails, like hedgehogs, can carry something on their fragile bodies. And this "something" can be 10 times more than the mollusk itself.
Newborn snails are born with a transparent shell. Only with the passage of time and eating food rich in calcium, the shell becomes dense and dark. The more calcium in the body of this creature, the more safe the life of the snail.
The snail can "walk on the edge of a knife" in the truest sense of the word. And stay alive and unharmed. This is because it secretes mucus, which protects the snail from everything sharp.
Recently, these molluscs have become increasingly used in medicine for the treatment of brain diseases.
Did you know that snails hibernate during the cold season? So they can hold out for more than six months. They just need to pull their heads into a dense shell and let out the mucus, which after a very short time will harden and merge with the shell together.
Snails cannot chew when they have teeth. They grind food in their mouths on their teeth and thus saturate their body with edible reserves.
You will find other interesting facts about snails on the Internet.
