Mucus trail following by the snail Biomphalaria glabrata (Say)

An experimental procedure involving time-lapse cinematography was used to investigate the responses of the freshwater pulmonate, Biomphalaria glabrata (Say), to their mucus trails. It has been shown that individuals of this species are capable of following their own trails and also those laid by other individuals of the same species. The capacity of mucus trails to influence snail behaviour is lost after a brief period of between 10 and 30 min. The snails tend to move in the direction the trail was laid with expectation greater than by chance. They do not follow mucus trails laid by another species, Limnaea stagnalis. The possible adaptive significance of trail following is discussed.