Class Gastropoda:
Class Gastropoda have following characteristics:
Habitat:
Gastropods can inhabit a wide range of habitats such as marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments.
Torsion:
Gastropods body undergoes through a process called as torsion which results in the positioning of the shell, mantle cavity and gills towards the anterior side of the body.
Shell:
They possess a single coiled shell that is typically spiral in shape, with exception of slugs which have a reduced shell.
Radula:
Radula is a unique feeding organ possessed by gastropods which is a ribbon-like structure lined with tiny, sharp teeth. It is used to scrape and tear food particles.
Foot:
Gastropods have a muscular foot located ventrally that is used for locomotion.
Mantle:
The mantle is a specialized tissue that surrounds the visceral mass. The function of mantle cavity is to secrete shell.
Head and Sensory Organs:
Gastropods have a distinct head with a mouth, sensory tentacles and eyes.
Reproduction:
Most gastropods are dioecious. Some gastropods undergo internal fertilization, while others undergo external fertilization.
Ecological Roles:
Gastropods play important roles as
- Herbivores
- Detritivores
- Carnivores
- Filter feeders
- Parasites
Examples of class Gastropoda:
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
| Achatina fulica |
Giant African Land Snail |
| Patella vulgata |
Common Limpet |
| Pomacea spp. |
Apple Snails |
| Conus spp. |
Cone Snails |
| Helix pomatia |
Roman Snail |
| Lymnaea stagnalis |
Great Pond Snail |
| Natica spp. |
Moon Snails |
| Pila globosa |
Asian Apple Snail |
| Planorbis spp. |
Ramshorn Snails |
| Turbo spp. |
Top Snails |
| Helix aspersa |
Garden Snail |
| Biomphalaria spp. |
Blood Flukes Snails |
| Limax spp. |
Slugs |
List of Mollusca classes with examples
Phylum Mollusca is classified into seven major classes namely:
