The term SLIMY GARDEN CREATURE can be solved by two crossword solutions: SLUG (4 letters) and SNAIL (5 letters). Slugs and snails are both mollusks, meaning they belong to the same phylum as clams, oysters, and octopuses. Slugs and snails are both gastropods, which means they have a single shell or no shell at all. Slugs are usually smaller than snails and have a slimy texture due to their mucus-producing bodies. Snails have a coiled shell that protects them from predators and the elements. Both slugs and snails are found in gardens and other moist environments, where they feed on plants and decaying organic matter.