Hairy snails

Zoltan

Cult Leader
Old Timer
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
1,465
According to G. M. Barker's The biology of terrestrial molluscs (CABI, 2001, 558 pp.):

"Periostracal hair-like or scale-like processes are not uncommon in a number of stylommatophoran families. A number of hypotheses have been advanced for the functional role of these periostracal processes, including: (i) ‘to repel moist particles’ (Solem, 1974) and prevent wet leaves from adhering to the shell; (ii) to defend against predators (Webb, 1950); and (iii) to camouflage the shell by trapping soil and debris (Pilsbry, 1940). These hypotheses are yet to be tested."

I also found this open-access article:

Pfenninger, M., M. Hrabáková, D. Steinke & A. Dèpraz. Why do snails have hairs? A Bayesian inference of character evolution. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2005, 5:59. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-5-59
 

Galapoheros

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
8,982
Whoa!, that's new to me, never seen that before either. Are those native?, do all specimens of the same species have those hair-like growths? If so, I'd say it's for defense also imo.
 

doom

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 30, 2006
Messages
185
Yes, they are native to and found in Slovenia.
 
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