| gastropoda | <zoology> One of the classes of Mollusca, of great extent. It includes most of the marine spiral shells, and the land and fresh water snails. They generally creep by means of a flat, muscular disk, or foot, on the ventral side of the body. The head usually bears one or two pairs of tentacles. See Mollusca. Alternative forms: Gasteropoda. The Gastropoda are divided into three subclasses; viz., (a) The Streptoneura or Dioecia, including the Pectinibranchiata, Rhipidoglossa, Docoglossa, and Heteropoda. (b) The Euthyneura, including the Pulmonata and Opisthobranchia. (c) The Amphineura, including the Polyplacophora and Aplacophora. Origin: NL, fr. Gr, stomach + -poda. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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