A few Sundays ago, the boys came running in the house from rugby calling for me, yelling for me to come outside and to see what was on Daddy's car. I couldn't fathom what on earth they were talking about but they were pretty amped up about it. Just so happens that a "garden snail" attached itself to Marks car while they were at rugby and hitched a ride to our house. I've seen a lot of snails in my life but not one as big as this. I was so curious about this snail that I looked it up.
This is the picture I found on line (seemed to be a match) and some rather interesting/disturbing facts:
With their messy trails and taste for greens, garden snails are often considered to be pests whose strong homing instinct makes human control difficult. They are often seen after rain, and leave a tell-tale trail of mucus. Being hermaphrodites, garden snails each have both male and female reproductive organs, but although they can mate with themselves, it's more usual to find a partner. When conditions are dry, snails retreat into their shell and seal the entrance. They can then survive in a state of suspended animation for several months. A single garden snail can have 430 babies in a year.
430 babies in one year. Seriously?
If you look closely, you will see its antennas stretching waaaaay out. Henry was in awe. He couldn't believe this snail took a ride on Mark's car.
The boys were very concerned about the snail being okay and finding a good home, so they put it in the garden and we watched it slowly squirm away.
When I say slowly, I mean we watched it for a really long time.
I thought everything was bigger in Texas, but it seems that this is true for England too - bigger spiders and bigger snails. Who knew?! xo
ReplyDeleteSo funny. I've never seen snails like that! Um, and a mucus trail? Appetizing.
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