Snail

The name snail applies to most members of the molluscan Class Gastropoda that have coiled shellss. Other gastropods, which lack a conspicuous shell, are commonly called slugs, and are scattered throughout groups that primarily include snails. Snails are found in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments.

Snails move like worms by alternating body contractions with stretching, with a proverbially low speed (hence the term snail mail for postal services). They produce a slime in order to aid locomotion by reducing friction. The slime also reduces the snail's risk of injury and helps keep away potentially dangerous insects like ants. In winter some snail species hibernate in their shells by closing the opening with a thin shell-like plate that they build only for this use and destroy in spring. Even some slug species build a shell-like object below their upper skin.

Snails are eaten in several countries of Europe, where they are considered a delicacy. Snails as a food are commonly referred to by the French word escargot. The two commonly eaten species are the Burgundy snail (Helix pomatia) and the brown garden snail (Helix aspersa) also known as the European brown snail.

Snails come in a range of different sizes. The largest land snail is the Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica; Family Achatinidae), which can measure up to 30cm. Pomacea maculata (Family Ampullariidae), or Giant Apple Snail is the largest freshwater snail, with its size reaching 15 cm diameter and over 600 g weight. The biggest of all snails is Syrinx aruanus, a marine species living in Australia. Shell lengths up to 1 m have been reported.

Snail also refers to a chess engine. See Snail (chess).