Snail Soft Toy - Anima Plush

The snail soft toy by Anima features a spiral shell and curiously raised antennae — an unusual plush toy that stands out from the usual cuddly crowd. The soft body and colourful house are well proportioned, and the friendly expression gives the snail a cosy character. Anima, the French manufacturer since 1946, shows with this model that less obvious creatures also have their appeal as a snail plush toy. In nurseries the snail can join nature projects — for instance when exploring how garden animals live and why snails carry a house on their back. It also makes a fitting gift for nature lovers with a sense of humour. The soft toy meets the European EN71 safety standard.

The Burgundy snail (Helix pomatia) is the largest native land snail and can grow a shell up to five centimetres across. It belongs to the molluscs (Mollusca) and moves on a single muscular sole, leaving behind a trail of mucus that serves both as a gliding surface and as protection from rough ground. Burgundy snails feed mainly on wilted plant matter and fungi. In winter they retreat into their shell and seal the opening with a chalky lid that protects them from frost and desiccation.

Did you know that snails have around 20,000 tiny teeth? These sit on a structure called the radula, or rasping tongue, and work like a grater — scraping off plant material and breaking down food. Although the teeth wear down constantly, they regrow throughout the snail's lifetime.