We all have come across snails right from our childhood. Some of them are beautiful and some may view strange. The snail population and varieties are too huge to imagine. There are about 80000 snail species discovered until today and the counts are still ticking. While personally writing this article, I was not aware of some of the snails consists of potent venom to even kill humans. That seemed too bizarre for me for life. Let’s check the 10 strangest snails in the world that may make you think if they are really snails.
10. Candy Cane Snail
The name themselves emphasizes the structure of the snail, “candy cane snail”. Candy cane snail is one of the most interesting snails to watch. Additionally, the snail resides on trees and has a unique conical like color patterns on the shell. While conical cane snails can even be considered beautiful snails, they can grow up to 60 mm in length. Further, the stripes of colors on the cone at first glance exactly resemble that of candy. The main population is native to the Caribbean. Their shell can consist of colorful stripes between 3 and 6. The color ranges are either creamy-white, brown, pink, green, or yellow.
9. Malaysian Micro Mollusk
Malaysian micro mollusk is considered the world’s tiniest snail found to date. The snail was first discovered by Malaysian scientists in 2015. Additionally, the snail is known to reside in three different Malaysian island regions. The size of the snail can grow not more than 0.86 mm in length. Further, the Malaysian researchers had to use a microscope as assistance to view them as they were incredibly hard to view them with naked eyes. Furthermore, the shells are known to be in the form of spiral shape and made of calcium carbonate.
8. Scaly Foot Gastropod
Scaly-foot gastropod is considered one of the bizarre snails in the world. Also recognized as “scaly-foot snail”, the snail is endemic to deep-sea in the hydrothermal vents of the Indian Ocean. Additionally, they are known to reside at depths of about 2400 to 2900 meters. The shell is something to be focused on, as they are made of iron sulfides. In fact, the middle layer is comparable to that of organic periostracum and an inner layer made of aragonite. Furthermore, the iron-like components that are made out on their shell help themselves avoid possible threats deep down there. Finally, it’s not time to judge completely that they fully get attracted to magnets, but they do slightly than we think.
7. Violet Sea-Snail
Also recognized as “jathina jathina”, the violet sea-snail is a weird snail of all-time. The violet sea-snails are found across the world in the warm waters of tropical sea, subtropical and warm sea. Further, the violet color shell makes it unique in terms of appearance. Some of the violet sea-snail species emerge with olive-tan colored shells. If you ever get a chance to visit a beach on a stormy day, then you have higher chances of spotting them. Additionally, they seem to get washed ashore due to heavy storms.
6. Punk Rock Snail
Punk rock snail is one such snail that has prickly extensions all over its shell. The spiny like thrones on the shell is widely spaced. Additionally, the snail is known to reside in the sea at a depth of 1000 meters. The name punk rock was named to the snail from the late lead singer, guitarist, and environmentalist – Joe Strummer. Furthermore, the spikes on the shell are most of the time covered with fuzzy white bacteria. Additionally, Shannon Johnson a researcher in Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute states that the snail is “Hard Core”. In fact, she even states that the snail tends to reside in an acidic poison and hot regions.
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5. Geography Cone Snail
Geography cone snail is a strange snail that resides majorly in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific regions. Additionally, geography cone snails avoid deeper water in the sea. Further, they tend to stay inactive during the day. In addition, the cone snails are known to bury themselves inside the sand. Burying themselves inside sand can facilitate camouflage with the environment for hunting prey. They consist of a smooth shell of color ranging between white, cream, or pink. The size of the shell can range between 4 inches to 6 inches in length. The conical shell shape makes it weird in terms of looks. Finally, geography cones consist of potential venom that is capable of killing even humans.
4. Giant Triton Snail
Giant triton snail is a huge marine snail also recognized as “Triton’s Trumpet”. The name “Triton’s Trumpet” was named to the Greek god of the sea’s son “Triton”. Additionally, the reason for naming was due to the shell’s structure and the sound it produces. The giant triton snail has a shell that is known to produce trumpet-like sounds. Further, the snail has a perfect sense of smell and is known to have aggressive behavior. Furthermore, it consists of venomous saliva that can paralyze its prey. Being said that the snail is venomous, the Australian government has taken measures to conserve in-threat species like starfish to rescue from giant triton snails. These snails can be dangerous enough to kill and engulf most of the crown-of-thorns starfish.
3. Giant African Land Snail
Giant African land snail is one of the biggest land snails in the world. Further, the snail is considered a massive invasive species to grab a spot in 100 invasive species around the world. This snail species resides majorly in East Africa and as well known to spread to other parts of the globe. Additionally, an adult Giant Africa land snail grows up to 20 cm in length and 7 cm in height. So, if you ever come across this snail species, then don’t ever get scared of them. They are incredibly scared at first glance as they are huge on hands.
The snail’s body is very peculiar and highlighting. The color of the shell varies depending on its diet. Giant Africa land snails has the toughest shell and contains heavy metal content of any other snail in the world. Finally, the shell is conical in shape and broader in terms of height.
2. Black Devil Spike Snail
The name of the snail suggests it all. But, as we think, the snail is not harmful to humans but produces awful smell while cooking. Black devil spike snail is completely black in color and has a shell size of about 6 cm in length. Additionally, an adult black devil spike snail can grow up to 9 cm. At first glance, the snail can look strange as they are in the form of a cone, elongated, and smooth-surfaced. Further, the snail is known to be kept in aquariums by many across the globe. Furthermore, they tend to withstand variations in temperature.
1. Amber Snail (Green-banded broodsac worm inside)
One cannot imagine a better snail than amber snails for its incredible goosebumps-like appearance while infected by green-banded broodsac. Green-banded broodsac is a parasitic worm that gets latched up with the amber snails and infests in their body. In fact, these parasitic worms can infect the snail’s tentacles. Eventually, the snail starts to lose its sight due to infection and the worm takes control over the snail. While the worm is ready to protrude out, they tend to mimic as an actual worm to provoke birds. Furthermore, the amber snails get weirdest due to these parasitic worms. However, personally, it’s a matter of getting pity over the snail as they tend to lose their sight every time they are infected by a green-banded broodsac parasite.