Gasteropod

/ˈɡæstərəpɒd/ noun

Definition

A mollusk with a muscular foot on its belly, including snails, slugs, and sea slugs; more commonly spelled 'gastropod.'

Etymology

From Greek 'gaster' (belly/stomach) + 'pous' (foot). The name describes the characteristic feature: a large muscle used for movement that appears to be attached to the belly or ventral side of the body.

Kelly Says

Snails and slugs are called 'belly-foots' because they move using a massive muscular foot attached to their underside—but evolution was so successful with this design that there are 85,000 species of gastropods, making them one of the most diverse groups of animals on Earth.

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