Garden Snail
Cornu aspersum
Quick answer
The garden snail is a small land mollusk that carries a coiled shell on its back and glides on a single muscular foot over a trail of mucus. It is a slow-moving plant eater common in gardens across much of the world. Garden snails are hermaphrodites, breathe air through a simple lung, and usually live 2 to 5 years.
Garden Snail facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Cornu aspersum |
|---|---|
| Diet | Herbivore (leaves, fruit, vegetables) |
| Habitat | Gardens, woodlands, hedgerows, and farmland |
| Lifespan | 2–5 years (longer in captivity) |
| Size | Shell about 3 cm (1.2 in) across |
| Top speed | About 0.05 km/h (very slow) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Mollusca |
| Class | Gastropoda |
Where it lives
Native to the Mediterranean and western Europe, now found in gardens across much of the world.
Shell and body
A garden snail carries a coiled, calcium-rich shell that it can withdraw into for protection and to avoid drying out. Its soft body has a single muscular foot, two pairs of tentacles on the head, and eyes set on the longer upper pair. The shell grows with the snail throughout its life.
Slow movement
Snails move by rippling muscles along their foot while secreting a layer of slimy mucus that reduces friction and lets them glide over rough or sharp surfaces. This makes them extremely slow, covering only a few centimeters per minute. The mucus also helps keep their bodies moist.
Diet and behavior
Garden snails are herbivores that feed on leaves, fruit, flowers, and vegetables, which is why gardeners often see them as pests. They rasp food using a ribbon-like, toothed tongue called a radula. In hot or dry weather they seal their shell with dried mucus and rest until conditions improve.
Reproduction and lifespan
Garden snails are hermaphrodites, meaning each individual has both male and female organs, though two snails still usually mate to fertilize each other's eggs. They lay eggs in moist soil, where the young hatch as miniature snails. Most live 2 to 5 years, though some kept in captivity live longer.
Frequently asked questions about the Garden Snail
How fast can a snail move?
Garden snails are extremely slow, moving at roughly 0.05 km/h, only a few centimeters per minute. They glide on a layer of mucus that reduces friction.
What do garden snails eat?
Garden snails are herbivores that eat leaves, fruit, flowers, and vegetables. They scrape food using a ribbon-like, toothed tongue called a radula, which is why gardeners often consider them pests.
How long do garden snails live?
Most garden snails live about 2 to 5 years in the wild. With protection from predators and good conditions in captivity, some can live longer.
Why do snails leave a slime trail?
Snails secrete mucus as they move to reduce friction and protect their soft foot from rough or sharp surfaces. The slime also helps keep their body moist and can leave a visible shiny trail.
Do snails have both male and female parts?
Yes. Garden snails are hermaphrodites, meaning each one has both male and female reproductive organs. Two snails usually still mate so they can fertilize each other's eggs.
