Insertion/inserted-in snail shells the convergence of a part with the main body of the shell, often where the peristome meets the body whorl. Infraparietal-a tooth position in pupillid snails at the top of the aperture and left of center. Incised-indented or excavated, in snail shells often referring to grooves in the surface. Imperforate-not having an opening, often referring to a shell umbilicus that is closed. Heliciform-in the shape of a helix, a spiral around a central column, in snail shells referring to the more rounded shapes. Gutter-a groove or depression, often behind the peristome of a shell. Growth lines-a series of radial ridges and grooves developed as a shell grows. Granulose-a shell texture that appears as many small raised bumps. Most of Pennsylvania's land snails are hermaphroditic, so the genital pore provides access to both a vagina and extendible penis. Genital pore-the opening to a land snail's reproductive organs, usually located on the right side of the head behind the right eye tentacle. Gastropod-Latin for the class of "belly-foot" mollusks, so called because they crawl upon a muscular foot beneath their body. Also called the nuclear whorl.Įpiphragm-a membrane of dried mucus formed across the aperture of a snail shell, it helps to prevent dessication when the snails is inactive for long periods.įoot-the muscular organ whose contractions propel a land snail, the foot is located on the ventral surface of the animal's soft body. A dextral shell's aperture appears on the right to an observer when the shell is positioned with apex up and umbilicus down and aperture toward the observer.Įmbryonic whorl-the initial part of snail’s shell, formed within the egg. Denticles are often referred to as "teeth," and are supposed to aid in shell positioning, predator deterrence, or calcium provisioning.ĭextral-a direction meaning whorled to the right. Transmits reproductive hormones that increase fertility.ĭeflected-turned downward or away, relative to the body whorl.ĭenticle-a solid calcium carbonate deposit integral to a land snail shell, usually at the aperture or within the shell. At the top of the columella is the shell's apex and at the bottom, the shell's umbilicus (though it may be covered).Ĭolumellar-toward or referring to the central axis of a shell.Ĭoncentric-a nested series of curves or rings.Ĭylindrical-a tube-shaped object such as a snail's antenna.ĭart-a tiny calcareous spear injected into a potential mate’s flesh prior to copulation. Also called the pneumostome.īuttress-a ridge or support beneath a denticle, or “tooth.”Ĭalcified-a shell feature that is hardened or covered by layers of calcium carbonate.Ĭarina-a spiral shell ridge at the outside edge of a whorl.Ĭaudal-a direction referring to the tail.Ĭhevron-an angular marking, often in a series upon a slug's mantle.Ĭolumella-the central, structural axis of a snail shell. Also known as tentacles.Īpertural-within the shell opening for the snail's body.Īperture-the opening of a snail shell from which the snail's soft body emerges, sometimes called the "mouth."Īpex-the top end of a shell's columella, opposite the umbilicus and furthest from the aperture.Īpical/apically-toward the apex or top of a shell.Īxial-a direction parallel to a shell's columella.īasal-the bottom or floor of a shell's aperture or shell when viewed apex up, umbilicus down.īasal notch-a central gap in the lower peristome, often in slitmouth snails.īase-the bottom of a land snail shell, when viewed with the aperture to the right.īody whorl-the final, most exterior whorl of an adult shell.īreathing pore-an opening in the mantle to allow air passage. Primary reference: Burch (1962).Īnal pore-opening in the mantle to allow waste elimination.Īngular-a lamella at the top right of the aperture in pupillid or vertiginid snails.Īngulo-parietal-the denticle on the body whorl in pupae-shaped shells, the result of the convergence of two denticles (the angular and the parietal) through evolution.Īntennae-the long projections from a snail's head, for detecting scents and orientation, and sometimes having eyespots. Below are some words used frequently in the study of land snails.
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