Photo © Marcos Teixeira de Freitas / Shutterstock.
Habitat
Snails first evolved in marine habitats and later expanded into freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Terrestrial snails live in moist, shady environments such as forests and gardens.
Adaptation
A snail's shell provides it with protection from changing weather conditions. In arid regions, snails have thicker shells that help them retain their body moisture. In humid regions, snails tend to have thinner shells. Some species burrow into the ground where they remain dormant, waiting for rain to soften the ground. In cold weather, snails hibernate.
Sources
For a list of sources used in the creation of this visual guide, please see the Recommended Reading page.