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Gastropods, most commonly known as snails
and slugs, are the largest class of the Phylum Mollusca and the
only class in that phylum to inhabit land. This is a partial
specimen (about 1cm in diameter) from a Gastropod's shell found
in the Main Fossiliferous Layer (MFL). Sections of the organism
have been lost over time, and only the apex remains. Due to the
lack of an entire specimen, it is not possible to determine the
exact taxonomy, although it is most likely of Order
Archaeogastropoda,
and of Genus Anchura, which is commonly found at this
particular locale.
Gastopods modify their undersides into
a long foot upon which they creep. Most have a head with eyes
and tenacles, a shell secreted by the mantle, and were either
a scavenger, carnivore, or deritus feeder. All undergo a process
known as torsion, where in maturing, they twist their gut around
so the gills end up in front and the anus is above the head.
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