Sivellinkärkiset

Sivellinkärkiset, scientifically known as Stylommatophora, are a taxonomic suborder of terrestrial gastropod mollusks. This group encompasses a vast array of common land snails and slugs, characterized by their distinctive pair of retractable tentacles, each bearing an eye at its tip. These tentacles are crucial sensory organs, used for detecting light, movement, and chemical cues in their environment.

The suborder Stylommatophora includes over 30,000 species, making it the largest group of land gastropods. Their distribution is nearly worldwide, found in diverse habitats ranging from forests and grasslands to deserts and even urban areas. Many species are herbivores, feeding on plants, while some are detritivores, consuming decaying organic matter, and a few are predatory.

A defining feature of many Stylommatophora is the presence of a coiled, external shell, although many species have secondarily lost this shell, evolving into slugs. The shell, when present, offers protection from predators and desiccation. Their reproductive biology is also notable, with most species being hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. However, they typically require a mate for reproduction. Stylommatophora play important roles in their ecosystems, acting as herbivores, decomposers, and a food source for other animals.