Book 4, Question 36
Why Do Snails Carry Shells?
A snail shell is a portable house, grown from the snail's own body. It shields the soft parts from drying out, from bumps, and from many hungry mouths. The house is part of the animal.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 4
More fun facts
- A snail's shell is its armor, built by the snail itself.
- A part of the snail's body called the mantle adds new shell at the edge, so the newest part is around the opening.
- Baby snails hatch already wearing tiny shells.
- A newly hatched snail eats its own egg, because the calcium in it helps harden its shell.
- Snails grow thicker shells when predators like crabs live nearby.
- A gene can decide whether a snail's shell curls to the left or to the right.
Sources: BBC, Scientific American, Science News Explores, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Can a snail leave its shell?
No. The shell is part of the snail's body, and it grows along with the snail.