John JohnstonI met this snail this morning. I am wondering why its trail is ‘dotted’? Was it hopping;-)
Ciara@johnjohnston@social.ds106.us I hope nobody jumps in with some actual rational reason for the dots because I prefer the thought of a happy snail that was just hopping and skipping for joy.
Paul Fenwick@CiaraNi@mastodon.green @johnjohnston@social.ds106.us : I'm glad to say it's actually hopping!
Or at least as much as a snail can hop.
They lift parts of their foot up off the ground so they use up less slime and moisture.
I've heard it called "loping gait", but I'm not a snailologist.
Paul Fenwick@CiaraNi@mastodon.green @johnjohnston@social.ds106.us : Here's a longer discussion on snail locomotion, complete with pictures and videos.
https://kozielska-reid.eu/2021/05/15/did-you-know-that-snails-and-slugs-use-different-gaits-to-move-on-different-surfaces/