Size – There is a wide range of sizes in this class.
Gastropods generally have a very well defined head, typically with some sort of protrusion, and have 2-4 tentacles with eyes.
They also have a ventral foot, which is behind the Greek meaning, stomach foot. Many Snails and Slugs are brightly colored and unique in appearance.
From the Tropics to the Arctic, you can find Snails and Slugs nearly everywhere. They have adapted to pretty much every possible habitat you can imagine. You can even find many in the deepest parts of the sea near the hydrothermal vents.
Many Gastropods enjoy scraping algae off of rocks, but there are many different diets among this class. Some are herbivores, some are carnivores. There are also scavengers, parasites, and some are predatory.
They use their muscular foot below the gut to move, or creep, slowly. The term for this is “locomotion.” For some, this is modified for swimming or burrowing.
There are an estimated 80,000 species in this diverse class. Gastropods belong to the Phylum Mollusca. There are believed to be around 475 living families of Snails and Slugs.
For more details on the families, species, and additional info on the classification – Check out this link!