• Question: Which animal would win in a race: Snail or a slug?

    Asked by tomg44 to Charlie, Eoin, Jemma, Julian, Steve on 17 Mar 2011.
    • Photo: Charlie Ryan

      Charlie Ryan answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      i’d go for a slug. Surely that shell is going to slow the snail down??

    • Photo: Stephen Moss

      Stephen Moss answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Hi tomg44

      Is this an experiment you could do in a biology class? Get a slug and a snail of similar size, starve them overnight, and then set them side by side about 20 cm from a delicious fresh lettuce leaf. I know nothing about gastropod athletics, but my money would be on the slug to get to the lettuce first. The snail would surely be slowed down by having to carry its house around with it, and we have the expression ‘as slow as a snail’ (not slug).

    • Photo: Julian Rayner

      Julian Rayner answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Great question, but need more details. Is the race taking place on the surface (probably snail would win) or underground (slug, hands down – they mostly live underground). Are there tasty lettuces thrown in for distraction (snail would win, slugs are greedier). And is there a tortoise that is going to come up from the outside at the last minute and beat them both?

    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      That’s an intriguing question. I think I’d put my bet on the snail because I have a perception of them being a little lighter and therefore more nimble, whereas slugs appear to be quite heavy and, well, sluggish!

    • Photo: Eoin Lettice

      Eoin Lettice answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      hi tom,
      good question. I’m not sure of the answer though! – it would depend on the species of snail and slug you used and on teh surface they were travelling on.
      This would make a nice experiment: get a few snails and slugs and have a race! Just be sure to treat the slugs and snails nicely and put them back where you found them.

      Eoin

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