All mollusks build their own shells, whether they live in water or on land. Creatures like snails, clams, oysters and mussels use an organ called a mantle to secrete layers of calcium carbonate, which ...

Robbie Rae does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their ...

Variation in land-snail shell form has been extensively documented, but its causes are poorly understood. For no character are there general rules relating shell form to environmental characteristics, ...

Generally, a shell is an evolutionary trait that allows a creature to retreat from predators. This is the case for almost all snails. But at least two species of snails use their shell in a much more ...

A damp, soggy shed is frustratingly impractical, but it has attracted visitors. A series of shimmering trails across the tree ...