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Home -> Kingdom Animalia -> Phylum Mollusca -> Class Gastropoda -> Unspecified Pulmonata

Pulmonata



2008/08/31 10:25:31.206 GMT-4

By Dr. John B. Burch, Ph.D. and Phil Myers

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Unspecified: Pulmonata
Members of this taxon

Pulmonates are the land snails and slugs (a few species are marine). A coiled shell is usually present, but it is lost in some important groups. Some detorsion has occurred in many species. The Subclass derives its name from the fact that the mantle cavity forms lungs; these are filled with air as a result of contractions of the mantle floor. One or two pairs of tentacles are found on the head, depending on whether the snail or slug is terrestrial (two pairs) or aquatic (one). The nervous system is highly concentrated. Pulmonates are dioecious and hermaphroditic as are prosobranchs, but pulmonates develop directly (there is no larval form).

Source:

Hickman, C.P. and L. S. Roberts. 1994. Animal Diversity. Wm. C. Brown, Dubuque, IA.

Brusca, R. C., and G. J. Brusca. Invertebrates. 1990. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.

Contributors

Dr. John B. Burch, Ph.D. external link (author), Mollusk Division, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. Phil Myers (author), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.

2008/08/31 10:25:31.543 GMT-4

To cite this page: Burch, J. and P. Myers. 2001. "Pulmonata" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 05, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pulmonata.html.

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