Snails have evolved; can now smash predators using shell
The real action starts at 0:40!
Quote:
In a study published in November by Scientific Reports, researchers found that two types of snails are unlike most of their kind, which generally withdraw into their shells to hide from attackers.
The Japanese snail Ezohelix gaines and the Russian Karaftohelix selskii were witnessed repeatedly hitting predators with their shells, knocking them flat.
On Friday, National Geographic shared the above video, which shows one of the Japanese snails defending itself in just such a way from a carabid beetle. There's a little bit of showmanship of the sort you might see in the UFC Octagon going on here, as the snail demonstrates some real action with its swinging motion.
The researchers conclude that the type of shell on a snail helps determine its best defense options, and certain snails may have evolved specifically to be better able to fight off predators.
You hear that, beetles? The snails are armed and dangerous. Walk for your lives!
