Why do Snails Need a Shell?

[sadsnail]

I was reading some of the posts about snails who had lost their shells and subsequently died.

I am just curious to know why a snail can't live without its shell, after all it is similar to a slug which does not have a shell.

Can't a snail adapt to not having a shell?

Renamed - CroSSLeSS

[Rachel]

snails insides are inside the shell, unlike a slug whose insides are also protected by the body. Also slugs have evolved to keep moist without a shell, but snails are adapted to keep alive and moist with the shell, so when it is gone they have nothing to protect what was inside other than a thin layer of fatty skin stuff (thats a techcnical term ), or to keep them from drying out.

[Bumblebee]

posting this link so that you can get a better idea of how a snail actually look inside its quite fachinating tbh

universe-review.ca/I10-82-snail.jpg