Snail slime is a kind of mucus (an external bodily secretion) produced by snails, which are gastropod mollusks. Land snails and slugs both produce mucus, as does every other kind of gastropod, from marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats.

The slime has the unusual characteristic of changing its consistency as a slug moves over it. Its very adhesive nature allows slugs to move over a wide variety of textures at a wide variety of angles, even while hanging in an inverted position in some cases.

Jun 13, 2022 · Produced by a gland in its foot, the flat bottom of a slug, the slime provides the surface by which this ancient creature moves. The viscous slime also protects slugs from desiccation and deters some predators.

Nov 3, 2022 · If you accidentally come across a slug's trail or handle a slug in the garden, your first instinct is likely to run for water so you can wash off that disgusting mucus. If you're having trouble getting the dried slime to rub off, try using a dry powdered borax hand soap or rubbing a paper towel between your hands.

The snail and slug slime are watery fluid with 90–99.7% water w/w while the remaining 0.3–10% of slime is known to contain glycoproteins, enzymes, proteoglycans like achacin, hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycans, antimicrobial peptides, copper peptides, and metal ions.

Ask a Scientist: Why are slugs so slimy? Assistant Curator and Malacologist Dr. Timothy Pearce explains why slugs are slimy and talks about the incredible and useful properties of slug slime.

Mar 15, 2025 · Slug slime, also known as mucus, isn’t inherently harmful to humans, but potential risks are associated with its consumption or contact. The real danger lies in the possibility of parasites or bacteria present within the slime, particularly the rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), which can cause a rare form of meningitis.

Jul 27, 2017 · The words "strong" and "inspiring" are not usually assigned to garden slugs. But slug slime inspired materials scientists to invent a new kind of adhesive that could one day help heal human...

Mar 15, 2025 · Slugs produce slime for a variety of reasons: locomotion, protection from abrasion, maintaining hydration, and signaling to other slugs. The regular slime is essential for their survival, allowing them to navigate their environment and stay moist.

Jul 26, 2007 · Slugs and snails produce slime that looks a lot like the stuff that comes out of your nose. These creatures don’t use tissues to wipe up their snot, though. Instead, they use the goo to help them stick to surfaces and crawl over obstacles. For years, scientists have been studying slug slime to better understand what it’s made of and how it ...