Snails

Snails are, in the eyes of many, fantastical creatures. Few small animals appear as often in old illustrated fairy tales as snails, typically depicted with beautifully patterned shells and elegant horns. Compared to many other countries, Iceland is not rich in land snails, but several species can still be found there. During a walk in East Iceland, you might encounter some of them, with the most notable probably being the black slug and the copse snail. The anatomy of snails is quite different from most other animals we know. Underneath them is a muscular foot, sometimes referred to as a creeping sole, which is their main locomotive organ and is used to pull themselves forward. Behind it is the visceral hump, containing most of the internal organs. Surrounding the visceral hump is the mantle or cloak, which in many cases secretes a calcareous shell, or a spiral shell, to protect the organs. On their head, they have horns or tentacles with sensory organs.

The copse snail was primarily found in East Iceland until a few years ago. It is most often found in heathlands or wooded areas, usually in damp places. It has a calcareous shell that is brown with a darker stripe at the bottom. Fine yellow dot lines run down the shell from the apex. A fully grown shell has about five and a half whorls and can be about two centimeters in diameter. The snail itself is brown or gray-brown and can retract its head and foot into the shell when threatened or during dry conditions. On its head, it has four sensory tentacles. The copse snail feeds on plant leaves and in autumn, it buries itself in the ground and seals its shell with a tight membrane. It is hermaphroditic but usually mates with another individual, although self-fertilization is not considered impossible. After 1990, the copse snail began to appear more widely in Iceland, particularly increasing in the capital area after 2000, and has since spread to the surrounding countryside.

The black slug is the most prominent of the snails found in Iceland. As the name implies, it is usually pitch-black and shiny due to mucus production and lacks a shell. It is often quite large, typically around 8 centimeters long in Iceland. The black slug is found in lowlands across the country but is most common in the south and east. Its mantle is clearly visible and contains small calcareous formations that are remnants of the shell carried by its ancestors. It has four tentacles, which are the snail's sensory organs. At the end of the upper tentacles are olfactory organs and eyes that detect movement and light, while the lower tentacles have balance sensors. When touched or picked up, it curls into a hemispherical shape and starts swaying side to side alternately. This behavior is meant to confuse predators. The black slug is hermaphroditic and can self-fertilize but prefers to mate with other individuals. In recent years, it has been discovered that the black slug may also be promiscuous and sometimes mates with the Spanish slug, producing offspring that are robust and cold-resistant. The black slug ls moisture-loving and can be found in grassy areas near the sea, vegetation-rich slopes, often facing south, sheltered crevices, and gardens. It is an omnivore that feeds on carrion, fungi, and vegetation, both living and decaying. It is generally not eaten by humans due to the disgusting taste disgusting and possible parasites and toxins.