gastéropodes
Gastéropodes, or gastropods, are a highly diverse class of mollusks that includes most snails and slugs. They occupy marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments and range from microscopic to large. A defining trait is the development of a univalve shell in many species, though numerous slugs have a reduced or absent shell. Torsion, a 180-degree twist of the visceral mass during larval development, is a hallmark of many gastropods and reshapes the arrangement of internal organs.
Anatomy and feeding: The muscular foot glides for locomotion, and a radula—a ribbon of microscopic teeth—is
Ecology: Gastéropodes play important roles as grazers, detritivores, and predators in ecosystems. They are common on
Reproduction and life cycles: Reproductive strategies vary; many gastropods are hermaphroditic, while others are dioecious. Fertilization
Taxonomy and evolution: Gastéropoda is one of the largest molluscan classes, with tens of thousands of described