Can snails go backwards?
Mike
instinct was to head for the light 'at the end of the spout', but of course
the spout got narrower and it got stuck so we had to poke it out.
'Our' reaction would be to reverse, but 'can' snails reverse? Anybody see
one do it?
--
Mike
The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rneba.org.uk
Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight?
www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk
Robert (Plymouth)
news:D76dnV43ZZPPjkrX...@bt.com...
Don't know. I get the same thing but usually manage to gently release it
without breaking the shell
��� � ����-��
You have to crack the shells to eat them, surely?
--
��� � ����-��
HEAVEN...@webtv.net
alan.holmes
"Robert (Plymouth)" <robert29b...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
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I usually stamp on them!
Alan
>
>
> http://www.keepcrueltyhistory.com/
alan.holmes
"��� � ����-��" <r...@spamall.com> wrote in message
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No, when you have cooked them you can just peel them out!
Alan
>
> --
> ��� � ����-��
alan.holmes
<HEAVEN...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:15542-4AD...@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net...
> You gents must be french.
Why, we have been eating whelks in this country for possibly hundreds of
years.
Alan
>
Mark
> A snail got itself stuck in the spout of the watering can. Its natural
> instinct was to head for the light 'at the end of the spout', but of
> course the spout got narrower and it got stuck so we had to poke it out.
>
> 'Our' reaction would be to reverse, but 'can' snails reverse? Anybody see
> one do it?
>
only the male ones are any good at reversing :)
shazzbat
"Mark" <Ma...@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:UjMBm.3647$KR3....@text.news.virginmedia.com...
on the ground :-)
Steve
Mike
"Malcolm" <Mal...@indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:JXBAreFt...@indaal.demon.co.uk...
>
> In article <D76dnV43ZZPPjkrX...@bt.com>, 'Mike'
> <'All.finished'@woolies.com> writes
>>A snail got itself stuck in the spout of the watering can. Its natural
>>instinct was to head for the light 'at the end of the spout', but of
>>course
>>the spout got narrower and it got stuck so we had to poke it out.
>>
>>'Our' reaction would be to reverse, but 'can' snails reverse? Anybody see
>>one do it?
>>
> The (sensible) answer to your question, which no-one else seems to have
> given (!), is that no, they can't. The sequence of muscular contractions
> in their 'foot, which pushes them forwards, only works one way not both.
>
> --
> Malcolm
Thank you Malcolm. That is what I thought but didn't know for certain.
alan.holmes
"shazzbat" <shaz...@spamlessness.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hb99ss$ta1$1...@news.albasani.net...
You should be bashing the watering can on them not on the ground!
Alan
>
> Steve
David WE Roberts
>
>
>
> "Malcolm" <Mal...@indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:JXBAreFt...@indaal.demon.co.uk...
>>
>> In article <D76dnV43ZZPPjkrX...@bt.com>, 'Mike'
>> <'All.finished'@woolies.com> writes
>>>A snail got itself stuck in the spout of the watering can. Its natural
>>>instinct was to head for the light 'at the end of the spout', but of
>>>course
>>>the spout got narrower and it got stuck so we had to poke it out.
>>>
>>>'Our' reaction would be to reverse, but 'can' snails reverse? Anybody see
>>>one do it?
>>>
>> The (sensible) answer to your question, which no-one else seems to have
>> given (!), is that no, they can't. The sequence of muscular contractions
>> in their 'foot, which pushes them forwards, only works one way not both.
>>
>> --
>> Malcolm
>
> Thank you Malcolm. That is what I thought but didn't know for certain.
I think, however, they can turn and flex the foot outside the shell quite
extensively, so it would be feasible for them to reverse by turning in
place.
However if the spout is taller than it is broad then they wouldn't be able
to turn and would get stuck, presumably.
Hmmm....possible that they could turn their body around in the opening of
the shell so their foot points backward and so go backwards.
I would expect that they have some mechanism for getting out of
(evolutionary?) dead ends.
Anyone got a spare research grant? I have most of the raw materials required
for the experiments. ;-)