This article was originally featured on The Conversation. Wander through your backyard or walk along a stream and it’s likely you’ll see a snail – small, squishy animals with shells on their backs.

Garden snails seem simple, but they’re full of strange features and habits most people never notice. They move slowly, hide in tiny gaps and appear harmless, yet their bodies are built in clever ways ...

Learn about snails with a roundup of snail facts. Discover what snails eat, when they get shells, how long they sleep and how fast they move.