snail sea snail http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2016002455 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_snail https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q381180 A common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the absence of a visible shell. marine snail saltwater snail sea snails