Adaptation
The
Gastrocopta procera has adapted to its different
environments in many ways.
An example of an adaptation, in Wisconsin,
over-wintering and ‘hibernating’ during the freezing months of
the year. After the
spring thaw, snails emerge from the soil and begin the processes
of reproduction and scavenging for food. The snails prefer to
live in areas of thatch, leaf-litter detritus, and under organic
debris. G. procera must live in an open prairie area.
If the prairie becomes covered with thick tree
vegetation, the snails are placed at a much higher risk for
extinction. If the
open prairie becomes completely covered with woody vegetation,
the G. procera cannot adapt to the change in temperature
and
amount of sunlight,causing the G. procera
to die off
(Gastrocopta
procera) - WDNR).
Gastrocopta procera and other land snails move by
well coordinated, wavelike contractions of the muscles on their
‘foot’. The snail
glides along a slimy mucus secreted by the foot which helps it
travel over almost any surface and prevents injury to its
delicate body (Snail Anatomy).
Land snails including the G. procera have a
protective shell made of calcium carbonate that provides
protection from predators and the environment.
If an environment becomes too dry, for example, the snail
can withdraw its body back into its shell to prevent severe
water loss (Wing
Snaggletooth (Gastrocopta
procera) - WDNR). Land snails also have elongated tentacles with an
eye at the tip. These eyes help them find food, water, and
safety from predators and can also be retracted if there is
danger looming nearby (