Ever since the incident during my childhood times. I have never, never ever thought about snails. In my life, i would always try to abort the topic about snails. Snails had been a 'nightmare' to me.

But till today, i would say thanks to biology. It made me abort the disgusted feelings towards a snail.

Yeap, my homework made me 'forgive' snails. My hate towards the snail made me totally ignore the existence of such creature. How ignorant i am! Firstly, let me pour out the sorrows of my 'nightmare'. I couldn't remember exactly how old i was, but i remember i was in kindergarden, and I WOULD NEVER forget the process of the incident.. This silly CHILDISH friend of mine, took a snail and put it on my head! And remember, i was mere fully 5 years old at that time. As terrified as a child, i scream to the core when i took it down myself. I could feel the slimy texture of it. It was horrible. Pity me? i feel pathetic now.

Well, at least biology have impress me with snails. I won't hate them anymore, but still, i'm scared of them. I have really no idea, how snails even exist.

I didn't know that there were different types of snail. No even to know how they reproduce.

Through my research, i realise that snails actually lay eggs. The only difference is that most snails have both “male” and “female” reproductive organs. Doesn't this mean that they could actually mate themselves? Well, believe it or not, they do! Am i suppose to say amazing? And snails also has a special name - Hermaphrodites. There are some snails that do not follow this adaptation. Like the Apple snail and periwinkles. Apple snail is the size of an apple. *swallow throat* i couldn't imagine seeing one as big as that, i think i'll scream.

Snails give birth too! Isn't it such a complicated creature?

The only snail that give birth is the trapdoor snail, also know as pond snail. ( This is the one that i took down from my head! ) The life span of a snail does not last for more that 5 - 7 years, therefore all snails are consider sexually mature by the time they are 1 year old. Their reproductive organs are at the side of their body allowing easier abilities to mate and grow the baby snails.

They are so slow that, i wonder how long does it take for them to mate. Well, the answer is that they communicate to each other for an average of 2 - 12 hours. A snail can also carry 100 eggs at a time. I just realise that snails actually resemble sea turtles, they leave their eggs under the ground. Some are buried under the dirt, some in cool places, or even rocks to keep them protected.

Typically, a snail egg takes 2 - 4 weeks to develop and then hatches.Their reaction is to find calcium as soon as they hatch by either eating their own egg or eating other eggs in order to get the extra nutrients. It will take around three months for the snails to completely form. Should i feel horrified?

Yeap, that's all i have discover. Since i have no idea about this in 15 years of my life. At least its better than not knowing about snails for the whole of my life.

Thank you bio, for relieving my stress towards the snail. :)

I wont look down at snails anymore. Maybe i'll just stay away from them. And for your information, the exception snail i'm not afraid of will be spongebob's Gary. *mao~*

By, Cheng Yee.