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The tale of the flying snail

Darwin’s theory that snails hitch a lift with birds proves plausible.

For an animal with one foot, it certainly gets around. Even across oceans.

Read the whole story here.

Posted by Nicola Jones on January 25, 2006 05:45 PM |

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This type of travel is seen in plants more than animals... snails live in plants... transport a plant and a bird is also unintentionally transporting a snail.

Posted by: JLud | January 25, 2006 09:27 PM

What does Dr.S.Gould-Harvard U. have to say about this? Has anyone heard?

Posted by: otilby | January 26, 2006 04:04 PM

Gould died in 2002. With all the controversy over evolution as "just a theory" couldn't we refer to this as Darwin's hypothesis?

Posted by: David Carlson | January 26, 2006 04:57 PM

It would be a far more likely scenario for a snail to hitch a ride upon, or lay eggs on, a log or mass of vegitation. This could be swept away by a river in flood stage or an abnormally high tide, and land months later on a remote beach.

Posted by: L.C. Fiala | January 28, 2006 02:06 PM

Are there any migratory bird species flying to Tristan da Cunha from Palearctic region or from any continent? Where the bird can meet an adult Balea or an egg?

Posted by: Terho Poutanen | January 30, 2006 02:58 PM

Are there any migratory bird species flying to Tristan da Cunha from Palearctic region or from any continent? Where the bird can meet an adult Balea or an egg?

Posted by: Terho Poutanen | January 30, 2006 02:58 PM

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