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Been on National Geographic but never on Time

Been on National Geographic but never on Time by Pandiyan.
If you are not squeamish, see it large!

Put a snail on your car bonnet; zip around at 100 kmph. Amazingly he can hold himself withstanding the tremendous windforce and crawl along too! Wanted to test it but could not. My wife did not want me to handle him too much and objected even to my placing him on my watch for this shot.

Large snails move about at a grand speed of 600 cms/hour while the fastest snail can clock 45 metres/ hour. They move alternating contractions and stretching of their bodies. They also secrete slime which helps reduce friction. It is said that slime is so thick and a snail can move on a razor without getting hurt.

Is this one a male or female? I don't know. Most snails have both male and female organs and produce both ova and sperms. Hermaphrodites as experts call them. However, snails do need to mate. They inseminate each other to fertilize their eggs.

They have a poor eyesight and no sense of hearing. They rely on smell and touch mainly.

Do you know the main difference between the snails and the slugs? 

Comments

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shivanayak  Pro User  says:

Heavy rain brght them down to ur garden.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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algo  Pro User  says:

Good catch. Looks like an interesting shell - have you got pics of the shell in focus?
I wish they did not eat my plants.
321
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ravages  Pro User  says:

LOL! Incredible shot. But I love the title more.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks friends.

Sorry, algo. I was trying hard to focus on his front I don't have a single one highlighting his shell. And yes, snails are pretty destructive.

Ravages - I can't take full credit for the title. Mae West (or was it Dolly Parton?) said something similar many, many years ago but in a different context. (Perhaps I can find a job in an ad agency, but then may be not because I go around revealing the source of the inspiration :)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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baby7  Pro User  says:

Good catch.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ravages  Pro User  says:

>>>but then may be not because I go around revealing the source of the inspiration<<<

Thats true. to be inspired rocks. Revealing the fact that you are inspired is bad
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ravages  Pro User  says:

as to your question:
Snails have shells, while slugs don't?
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Corgiflore  Pro User  says:

Wwooww!!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Monika N.  Pro User  says:

Yuck! How pretty. But I agree with your wife here...

And what Ravages said? Snails have a house on their back?
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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hs_yin  Pro User  says:

nice shot!It eats up a lot of plants of mine !
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks baby, Corgiflore and hs_yin.

Ravages - You are right about snails and slugs. And on being inspired and being a plagiarist - spoken like a true adman!

Monika - First time I have seen 'Yuck' being used to describe something pretty!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kaushik A C  Pro User  says:

i agree with ur wife...man!!!! how did u handle it???i hate slimy stuff.. anyways it's a gr8 shot... and pretty interesting info abt snails... lol
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Calovi  Pro User  says:

Amazing Pandiyan, You are the man! Nice titled, super sharp and well balanced too. Great shot!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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tearapen  Pro User  says:

neat.really great picture.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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wir-click-wir says:

Snails are fun to watch. Their movement is so fluid. Great picture, and very neat info!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ollie_girl  Pro User  says:

You know, they're really interesting creatures. Nice picture showing his 4-prongs on front. Cool!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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satosphere  Pro User  says:

nice shot.
And the snail is quite cute.

But getting them on your watch is a bit difficult. Touch them a little, and they get back to their house. How did you coax them out?

I like snails and slugs. What I dont like are leeches.....
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Rachel Pennington  Pro User  says:

Very nice! :)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks folks. My little friends must be happy to know that there are many admirers!

satosphere - You have to be very patient with snails. Their sense of time is very different than ours! So no coaxing and just waiting.

Kauzzzz - My wife is okay with slimy creatures. She was just worried that I might hurt him by inept handling. Their slimy underside was the main reason for putting them on the watch!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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42n81 > Anti-Inanity  Pro User  says:

what a funny, funny caption :-)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks Kathy.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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aarthyr  Pro User  says:

Oh you, :-) I used to love doing this, and would get so upset when I saw their crushed shells on the sidewalk.

Very nice.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

There are people like my wife who make sure that does not happen in out house! The new icon is wonderful, Aarthy.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Linda B (Wine Diva) says:

Consider it nominated for Entitled. It's a wonderful photo!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks Wine Diva.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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bitrot  Pro User  says:

Fantastic! (1-2-3)
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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tawfique says:

i know the similarity...both are yukkie!!
he he he...but the shot is such a lovely one!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks bitrot and tawfique.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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mutbka says:

People don't like them because they don't know how to cook them right! ; )
I think it's an amazing beautiful creature, beautifuly photographed.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks mutbka. It would be interesting to find out what the snails think of people including those who photograph them for a cheap pun or those who cook them without knowing how!
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Dugfresh  Pro User  says:

I did some experiments with slugs in Seattle. Found a slug speeding along towards my plate of food at a BBQ and decided to see what it would do if I moved the food. Almost instantly the slug changed course and again headed to the food. I'll see if I can dig up my photos of it.

Another funny thing was that we had hundreds of snails on the front side of the house. Especially on the 30+ stairs from the street to the front door. You had to be careful not to step on several. They never lived in the back yard though for some reason, slug territory maybe.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Dugfresh - Really fascinating and worth trying. In fact, there is a lot of serious research going on these small creatures and others not just from a naturalist perspective but also areas such as neurosciences and artificial intelligence. Real convergence. Thanks for visiting and sharing.
Posted 48 months ago. ( permalink )

bosorka [deleted] says:

A wonderful close up and interesting info :)
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks bosorka.
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

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merrick310  Pro User  says:

Awesome shot! Thought you were going to comment on how slow time was moving :)
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks merrick for the visit. That thought did not strike me! I must be slow :)
Posted 47 months ago. ( permalink )

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Gale Franey  Pro User  says:

Wonderful photograph!
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks Gale. I agree that caption is corny!
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

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torontofotobug  Pro User  says:

whew, you really have to make a committment to look at one of your photos. Been sitting here for ten minutes, reading the description and then the comments, I'm worn out already and this is just the first one! I should have packed a lunch.. I knew it.. and not escargot.

Anyway, fabulous shot, I love everything about it!
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks Anne for the visit. You know, with snails time stands still!
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

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artphoto2005  Pro User  says:

I was attracted to this picture I am always ahead of time but never on national Geographic...I enjoy your commenteries...You would be a good person to have Tea or coffee with
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

I am always ahead of time
You must be a man in control, Bert. I admire such people. It would be great to have a cup of tea with you. Thanks for the thought.
Posted 45 months ago. ( permalink )

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divya babu  Pro User  says:

eeeks! i would've run for my life, but you paused to take a pic!!
great...err...catch?
i'd fave this for its photographic quality, but i'm terrified of this guy!
:))
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks divya for your visit and comments. He is such a harmless guy. Really.
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

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Shekar Lakshmipathi says:

Pandiyan, what camera and lens do you use? Can you email me?
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

ButterStones [deleted] says:

wonderful shot. an and amazingly fresh n novel idea...
not to say a great title to round it off...
bravo
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Shekar, you have got mail.

Thanks ButterStones. I appreciate it.
Posted 42 months ago. ( permalink )

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Sibi  Pro User  says:

Stunning picture! Made me realise you must have a much better camera than I do... Oh and I loooove snails :-D
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks Sibi. Glad you liked it.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

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Dilip Muralidaran  Pro User  says:

Wonderful Stuff.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pandiyan  Pro User  says:

Thanks Dilip.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

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Alexander Yates  Pro User  says:

Congratulations! Did you know that this is the most interesting photo tagged with slime? Please consider posting it to The Most Interesting **Blank** Picture
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

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jesskeast says:

hi i am a admin from slow slugs, we are a new group and we would love to have your photo.
www.flickr.com/groups/389092@N22/
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

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vagrantdil  Pro User  says:

awesome!!! brilliant shot!! :)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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CatsFive  Pro User  says:

Time moves soooooo slowly sometimes, eh? =)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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