Locomotion: Snails move by crawling, swimming, or floating with currents. Land snails crawl on the ground, creeping along on their large, flat foot; a special gland in the foot secretes mucus (a slimy fluid) that helps the snail move. The common garden snail is the slowest moving animal; it can travel about 0.03 mph (0.05 kph).

Anatomy: Snails range in size from 0.02 inch (less than a millimeter) long (Ammonicera rota) to over 30 inches (77 cm) long (the marine Australian Trumpet (Syrinx aruanus). The largest land snail is the Giant African Snail; it is over 15.5 inches (39 cm) long and weighs about 2 pounds (900 g).

Snails have two pairs of tentacles on the head. Land snails have a light-sensitive eyespot located on each of the larger tentacles; water-dwelling snail eyespots are at the base of the tentacles. The smaller pair of tentacles is used for the sense of smell and the sense of touch.

Diet: Most snails eat living and decaying plants, but some are scavengers and some are predators. They eat using a radula, a rough tongue-like organ that has thousands of tiny denticles (tooth-like protrusions).

Predators of the Snail: Many animals eat snails, including birds, fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, beetles (and other insects), and people.