ADW: Pulmonata: INFORMATION

By John B. Burch and Phil Myers

Kingdom: Animalia

Class: Gastropoda

Order: Pulmonata

Members of this Order

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).

pulmonata/*

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.

For More Information

Find Pulmonata information at

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

John B. Burch (author), Mollusk Division, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Phil Myers (author), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.

To cite this page: Burch, J. and P. Myers 2001. "Pulmonata" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 13, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pulmonata.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

Sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative,
the Homeland Foundation and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants DUE-0633095 and DRL-0628151.
The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. Report Error — Comment
©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors.
All rights reserved.