14 DAY TRIAL // Scientists at Lund University in Sweden say that a freshwater snail species that inhabits ponds in Europe has the ability to “grow” spots on its shell.
The spots are of two different types. Some are fairly complex, and are intended to help them better blend in with their surroundings and therefore escape predators.
Others are slightly darker and display a less complex pigmentation. By the looks of it, these serve to protect the snails against UV light, Live Science tells us.
The researchers have reached this conclusion after placing several Radix balthica snails in controlled environments and exposing them to predatory cues and UV light.
Apparently, it took about 8 weeks for the snails to adapt to their new living conditions and change their appearance.
A paper detailing the findings of this investigation was published in the journal Biology Letter this past September 17.