(40c) Building a Better Snail: Rheology, Optimization and Gastropod Locomotion

Many gastropods such as slugs and snails crawl via a unique mechanism known as adhesive locomotion. When a slug or snail crawls, it secrets a thin film of pedal mucus, a non-Newtonian fluid used both for adhesion and propulsion. All interaction between the organism and the substrate is through stresses generated in this thin film of pedal mucus hence, to understand the mechanics of locomotion, it is essential to understand the complex fluid dynamics within this thin mucin film. Using a simple mechanical model, we show that the rheological properties of this fluid are tuned to decrease the energetic cost of locomotion, which is primarily in the chemical production of the mucus.