Gastropod
(Gastropoda Mollusc)
Accession Number:
PLYMG:NH.2000.1.4614.4
Gastropod (Gastropoda Mollusc)
Gastropod (Gastropoda Mollusc)
Accession Number: PLYMG:NH.2000.1.4614.4
Gastropods are a class within the phylum Mollusca and are one of the largest and most diverse groups of molluscs, comprising over 60,000 species. This class includes familiar animals such as snails, slugs, and sea slugs. Gastropods are characterised by a single, often coiled shell (though some species, like slugs, lack a shell entirely) and a distinct head with sensory tentacles, often bearing eyes at the tips. Their bodies are typically soft, with a muscular foot that produces mucus, enabling movement, especially on land where they leave a slimy trail.
Gastropods occupy a wide range of habitats, from terrestrial environments to freshwater and marine ecosystems. They exhibit diverse feeding habits: some are herbivorous, others are carnivorous, and some are scavengers. Gastropods possess a unique feeding structure known as the radula, a toothed, chitinous organ (chitin is a tough, flexible substance found in the exoskeletons of arthropods) used to scrape, cut, or tear food. These molluscs play important ecological roles, such as grazing on plants, acting as predators, and serving as prey in various ecosystems.