Snails

biology; elementary science; life science; home school; Real Science-4-Kids; gastropod; bivalve; cephalopod; mollusk; Mollusca; radulaSnails are a type of mollusk. Mollusks are in the scientific group Mollusca and are soft-bodied animals that live in oceans and lakes and on land. The three types of mollusks are gastropods (snails and slugs), bivalves (clams and oysters), and cephalopods (octopuses and squids). All mollusks have organs and a mantle that covers the organs, one or more feet or arms, and a shell on the inside or outside of the body. A snail has a foot (a large muscle used for moving), eyes on the tips of eyestalks, a toothed tongue called a radula, and a spiral shell. It moves slowly, leaving a trail of slime behind. The slime helps a snail stick to and move along a surface and protects the snail's body from sharp objects. There are many different kinds of snails that live on land and in fresh and salt water. Some people eat snails. A pronunciation guide of scientific terms is included. 24 pages filled with engaging, colorful illustrations. Reading Level 1-3, Interest Level 2-5, Word count 326, Lexile measure 560L.