I really like Jay Chou's song "Snail," so today I'll talk about snails. Snails are a general term for all terrestrial snails, belonging to the class Gastropoda within the molluscs. Although the term "snail" encompasses many different families and genera, their body structures are very similar. In the pre-Qin and Western Han dynasties of my country, the four characters "蠃," "螺," "蜗," and "蛞" were used interchangeably, referring to all spiral-shaped shells or mucous-covered soft-bodied creatures. For example, the *Erya* states that "蛞蝓 is the same as 螔蝓, and is the same thing as snail."
Snails are found all over the world, with more than 25,000 known species. They have soft bodies and a spiral-shaped shell. Most common snails are yellowish-brown. So, which snail is the most beautiful? This article introduces 10 of the most beautiful snails in the world. Which one do you like best?
1. Forked-line Heming Snail (vibrant colors)
Among the top 10 most beautiful snails, the Forked Hamming Snail, also known as the Cuban Candy Snail, tops the list. They are considered one of the most colorful snails in the world, displaying almost every hue from red to purple. Renowned for their unique combination of colorful lines, the Forked Hamming Snail primarily inhabits the rainforests of Cuba. In the rainforest, they are as captivating as moving, colorful candies. However, due to their beauty, this snail is now listed as an internationally endangered species, protected by the local government, and its export is prohibited.
2. Sea Butterfly (transparent shell/sparkling)
Sea butterflies are marine snails adapted to environments near the poles; their formal name is *Pteropoda*. Sea butterflies are among the most beautiful snails in the world, their spectacular and shimmering appearance breathtaking. Sometimes, they even exhibit a transparent body. These sea butterflies primarily live in the deep ocean, typically found hundreds of feet underwater. They possess wing-like lobes that resemble butterfly wings, but they are actually evolved from lateral legs. These wing-like lobes enable sea butterflies to swim; unlike other snails, they lack the ability to crawl. Sea butterflies lead a planktonic life, adapted to the marine environment near the poles. Although sea butterflies are very small, generally no more than 1 centimeter in size, they attract attention with their extremely captivating appearance.
3. Hawaiian snails (brightly colored)
Hawaiian snails, considered one of the ten most beautiful snails, belong to the genus *Acanthocephala*. The Hawaiian snail family once boasted over seven hundred species, with vastly different shell colors. Red, brown, black, white, green, orange, and yellow were common colors. Hawaiian snail shells are typically not a single color, but a combination of multiple colors. Because of this, Hawaiian snail shells have long been considered works of art, and many people have engaged in buying, selling, and collecting them. However, the number of these beautiful snails is dwindling, and they are now on the verge of extinction.
4. Garden Onion Snail (various colors/patterns)
The garden onion snail is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful snail species in the world. In many parts of Europe and Asia, these small snails with their brightly colored, beautifully striped shells can be seen in parks. Although the garden onion snail is not found in the wild in China, it has become a popular pet snail due to its varied colors and beautiful shell.
Garden onion snails have a wide variety of shell colors and patterns, ranging from brown to yellow, red, pink, and white. Regardless of the shell color, almost all garden onion snails have one or more dark brown stripes, adding to their unique beauty.
5. Sulawesi snail (unique shape/bright color)
When it comes to the most beautiful snails, the Sulawesi snail is, in my opinion, extremely captivating. Also known as the rabbit snail or elephant snail, it is called an elephant snail because of its large, ear-like tentacles, unlike the rabbit snail, which has large, ear-like tentacles. The Sulawesi snail's skin displays a bright and luxurious color, and some species have shells with seven or eight interesting spiral shapes.
Among Sulawesi snails, the orange rabbit snail is one of the most popular species. This medium-sized snail is known for its beautiful orange mantle and is beloved by aquarium enthusiasts. The orange rabbit snail's popularity among aquarium enthusiasts is partly due to its unique and beautiful appearance.
6. Flamingo-tongued snail (orange-yellow/leopard print pattern)
The flamingo tongue snail is a truly fascinating species of snail. Although they are tiny, only about an inch long, you might miss them if you swim too fast. However, this marine snail is remarkably striking in color. Their bodies are typically a vibrant orange and yellow, covered with irregularly shaped black rings, resembling leopard spots. When attacked or frightened, the flamingo tongue snail sheds its dazzling appearance, its little face turning pale – perhaps the only example among marine life of a creature that becomes more subdued when frightened.
7. Purple Gold Whelk (violet or magenta stripes)
The golden bell snail, also known as the jewel snail, is native to the seaweed forests along the Pacific coast of North America. They are found in the region between southeastern Alaska and Baja California. This snail ranks highly on lists of the most beautiful snails for its magnificent golden cone-shaped shell, truly deserving the title of a jewel snail.
The golden bell snail's shell is golden on the surface and bottom, with a purplish-red suture line surrounding the center, shell edge, and bottom, adding to its unique charm. Each whorl has four to five spirals, densely covered with tiny granules. Praised as the "most beautiful bell snail" for its unique color and comical appearance, the golden bell snail is highly prized by collectors. This snail is widely popular for its distinctive color and pleasing appearance.
8. Red snail (rich color/large size)
Red snails are among the most visually appealing snail species. They live in the bushes and swamps of North America, and their shells are a vibrant red. These red-shelled snails are quite large, averaging about 20 grams, and due to their distinctive appearance, they are not suitable for consumption. One of the most attractive qualities of red snails is that no two individual shells seem to have exactly the same pattern.
Red snails are nocturnal, preferring to feed on the chlorophyll in broad-leaved plants. They possess a soft, long tongue covered in mucus, but this seemingly delicate tongue actually conceals a large number of teeth. There are 135 teeth arranged longitudinally and 105 teeth arranged laterally, totaling 14,175 teeth. This sheer number of teeth demonstrates the red snail's incredible chewing power.
9. Purple sea snail (purple-blue or white shell)
The purple sea snail is one of the most well-known species of colorful snails. Clad in a stunning purple-blue or white shell, they spend their lives adrift in the ocean, feeding on abundant plankton. This snail's foot secretes mucus to form a float, enabling it to lead a unique and risky planktonic life.
Purple sea snails protect themselves from predators during their ocean voyages through mimicry and camouflage. Their bluish-purple shells blend seamlessly into the ocean, making them difficult for predators to spot. This camouflage allows the purple sea snail to conceal itself in the sea, enabling it to live a carefree life while effectively reducing potential threats.
10. Fire Snail (large size, striking color)
The fire snail is one of the largest snail species found on the Malay Peninsula. Besides their enormous size, they are distinguished by their striking appearance. The fire snail's body displays red and black markings, clearly different from most other snails. When fully grown, fire snails can reach up to 30 centimeters in length, although not as large as the giant African snail found in Ghana. Nevertheless, the fire snail is still considered one of the largest snails in the world.
Fire snails can generally only be found in areas of the Malay Peninsula at altitudes exceeding 1000 meters and within 100 kilometers of ground level. Due to their striking colors and large size, fire snails are often caught by local villagers and sold as pets. People are attracted by their unique charm, making fire snails very popular in the area.
This ranking of the 10 most beautiful snails in the world is based primarily on their attractiveness, appearance, and popularity, with additional reference to relevant internet rankings and lists. Data is current as of November 4, 2023. Please feel free to comment and offer corrections in the comments section below. This list is for reference only. If you have any better suggestions for this list, please leave a message.
