Gastropods
The slowest movers in the animal kingdom!
Gastropods are a type of mollusk with soft bodies that often live on land. They're known for their single shell (snails) or no shell at all (slugs).
What makes them this type?
- Slow movement
- Leaves trails behind them
- Eat plants and sometimes animals
- Have special foot for sliding
Examples
Garden Snail Has a protective shell that it withdraws into
Banana Slug Found in rainforests, can grow up to 8 inches long!
Roman Snail Can live up to 15 years in captivity
Motion Notes (for Animation & Drawing)
- They move by sliding along a film of mucus
- Leave trails behind them as they go
- Very slow - usually just a few centimeters per minute
Learn More
Soft, boneless body
Has a special foot for moving around
Fun Facts
- Gastropods have been on Earth since before dinosaurs!
- Some snails can sleep for years without food or water
- Slugs have up to 25,000 teeth - they never stop growing!