Snails sleep long periods of time because they, like many other animals, hibernate. When extreme changes in the snail’s environment occur, like extreme change in temperature for example, a snail uses hibernation, which is sleep, as a way of survival. A snail will bury it self in dirt soil and close its shell with its own slime as to isolate itself from the environment and thus reduce the effects of that environment on its body. Some species of desert snails hibernate very long periods, years, and eventually die.
Reference:
-Kristie Borchert (2009, January 14). Snails can sleep for 3 years, Associated Content. Retrieved from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1367384/snails_can_sleep_for_3_years.html
-Image retrieved from http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/SnailMesodonClausus01.jpg
very intresting facts... i haven't heard of them before!
ReplyDeletethey're sooo lucky! i wish i could do that.
ReplyDeletethere are some poeple who could actually, its called the sleeping beauty syndrome, its very rare. a few people in the whole world have it. they actually sleep for a long period of time, sometimes even up to a year or more.
how long do snail sleep
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