Snail Vs Slug

Gastropods include both snails and slugs. Slugs are exposed to the weather because they lack the coiled shell that snails have. Snails and slugs differ from one another not just in anatomy but also in habitat, feeding, lifespan, and behaviour. The phylum Mollusca includes the Gastropoda class, which includes the slug and the snail. The term derives from the Greek words gastro (stomach) and podos (feet). Gastropods are often aquatic creatures.

Decaying Leaves

Snails and slugs are often found on dry land. However, both species can occasionally be found in water, even for brief periods. Both creatures leave behind a slime trail. They may move across the ground thanks to mucus. Both types of life can become dangerously dehydrated if they lose moisture to dry soil.

Anatomy of the Slug and Snail

The main distinction between the two species is that the snail has an obvious shell while the slug does not. The snail has a large enough shell for it to duck into for protection. Some snails can retract their shells completely. Slugs lack a defensive shell or mobile house. Slugs commonly employ a vestigial internal shell. Calcium is kept in it for later use. The animal's soft tissue runs the risk of desiccating without a protective shell.

Following are the Difference Between Snail and Slug:

Snail vs Slug: Movement

Snails move around by using a muscular foot called a "foot" that sticks to the ground, while these animals move forward. Slugs lack a muscular foot and they use their body to pull themselves forward on their belly or sides. Slugs go backwards or sideways when needed. But snails cannot do this because the snail's body is covered with a shell and its foot sticks only in one place.

Snail vs Slug: Speed 

Different snails and slugs move at various speeds. The average snail can move at a speed of 1 mm/s. It moves more quickly than other slugs. Some snails don't even move at all.

Snail vs Slug: Habitat

Slugs can easily, if slowly, fit into the smallest openings thanks to their lack of a rear shell and the capacity to compress themselves. To their benefit, they make use of loose tree bark, stone slabs, and wooden planks.

Snails immediately retreat to their shells, especially when there are nearby natural predators. Some snails can seal their shells and retract for added defence.

Snail vs Slug

Snail vs Slug: Cuisine

Snails are a delicacy in many nations, but particularly in France. Many upscale restaurants serve cooked land snails as an appetiser called escargot. Large land snails are the major source of the dish's ingredients, largely because they are very nutritious, and it is best to avoid using sea snails because they can be poisonous to people. Slugs may also be eaten.

Summary

Snails and slugs belong to the same class and they both have many similarities like their movement, their food, etc. Snail bodies are covered with a shell that protects them from danger, while slug bodies are not covered with the shell. The shell of snails are much more like an envelope that protects them from predators including humans and can expand when disturbed to increase their size. Snails and slugs both can live in aquatic or terrestrial habitats. They feed by propelling food from the mouth into their intestines where it is digested. Both snails and Slugs are very common and can be found almost everywhere on land and water.