The Secret Lives of Snails and Slugs

The Secret Lives of Snails and Slugs. Written by Terry Miller Shannon.

《蜗牛和蛞蝓的秘密生活》 作者：特里·米勒·香农

Introduction Can you guess what walks on one slimy foot? Here's another clue. This animal has a tongue covered with sharp teeth. Believe it or not, the right answer is a snail or slug. You'll be amazed when you discover more about these creepy crawlers.

引言 你能猜出什么动物靠一只黏糊糊的脚走路吗？ 再给你一个提示哦。 这种动物的舌头上长满了锋利的牙齿。 信不信由你，正确答案就是蜗牛或者蛞蝓。 等你了解更多这些小爬行动物的知识，肯定会大吃一惊的。

Snail and Slug Bodies Snails and slugs are much alike. They belong to the family of animals called mollusks. The mollusk family also includes clams, squids, and octopuses. All mollusks have soft bodies and no backbones and most have shells to protect their bodies. Even slugs have a tiny shell hidden beneath their skin.

蜗牛和蛞蝓的身体 蜗牛和蛞蝓非常相似。 它们属于名为软体动物的动物家族。 软体动物家族还包括蛤蜊、乌贼和章鱼。 所有软体动物都身体柔软、没有脊椎，大多数都有外壳保护自己的身体。 就连蛞蝓的皮肤下也藏着一块小小的壳呢。

Snails and slugs are also called gastropods, which means belly foot. A snail or slug has one foot, with its head at one end. It seems to walk on its belly, but actually it is crawling on its foot. Snails and slugs have tongues with many rows of tiny sharp teeth.

蜗牛和蛞蝓也叫腹足类动物，这个名称的意思是“长在腹部的脚”。 蜗牛或蛞蝓只有一只脚，头长在脚的一端。 它看起来像是在用肚子走路，其实是靠那只脚爬行哦。 蜗牛和蛞蝓的舌头上长着好多排细小又锋利的牙齿。

Snails and slugs have four tentacles shaped like arms. At the ends of the top two tentacles are the eyes. These top tentacles are also used to smell. Slugs and snails use their bottom two tentacles for feeling their way along.

蜗牛和蛞蝓长着四根像小胳膊一样的触角。 头顶两根触角的末端就是它们的眼睛。 这两根头顶的触角还能用来闻气味哦。 蛞蝓和蜗牛靠下面的两根触角摸索着认路。

Slime. Snails and slugs move very slowly, gliding along on their single feet. The foot produces slime that helps the snail crawl, like sliding on a bed of jelly. The goo is sticky, so it also helps the animal climb. Slugs and snails drink through their skin, and their slime filters the water.

黏液。 蜗牛和蛞蝓行动很慢，靠自己唯一的脚慢慢滑动前行。 脚会分泌黏液帮助蜗牛爬行，就像在一层果冻上滑动一样。 这种黏糊糊的物质有粘性，还能帮助它们爬高哦。 蛞蝓和蜗牛通过皮肤喝水，它们的黏液可以过滤水中的杂质。