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When it gets too hot or dry, some snails seal themselves shut and slip into a deep dormancy that lasts far longer than you'd ever guess.

How long can some snails stay asleep at a stretch?

Up to about 3 years
When conditions get too hot or dry, some snails seal themselves up and enter a deep dormancy that can last up to three years, waiting for moisture to return before waking.

Some land snails survive extreme heat or dryness by sealing their shell opening with hardened, dried mucus, creating a barrier that locks in moisture and lets them slow their metabolism dramatically, entering a dormant state called estivation that can stretch for years if conditions stay unfavorable.

A day or a week would only cover a short dry spell, nowhere close to the multi-year dormancy some species are capable of, showing how extreme this survival strategy can be.

There are documented cases of snails believed dead, sealed away in collections for extended periods, reviving once exposed to moisture again — a striking reminder of dormancy's resilience in the animal kingdom.

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