Nutrition

Land snails typically feed on organic matter such as animal feces, decaying wood and leaves, and fungi (Caldwell and Dourson 2009).  The process of feeding begins with detection via chemoreceptors upon the tentacles (Caldwell and Dourson 2009).  Snails usually begin searching for food around dusk (Michigan Natural Features Inventory). Next, the snail will feel the food with their foot and mouth.  The snail then begins feeding by using its radula (pictured above) to scrape pieces of food into their mouth (Caldwell and Dourson 2009).  The bolus is swallowed into the esophageal tract while mixing with saliva (Caldwell and Dourson 2009).  The feeding process varies depending on the durability of the vegetation (Caldwell and Dourson 2009).