Nutrition

Along with other members of its genus, the Mesodon zaletus obtains its food by use of a radula.  As seen in the habitat page to the left, the toothed globe snail is terrestrial and travels through dense wooded areas in search of their food. 

All gastropods have a radula which is used to sweep and filter fine organic particles and many use it to obtain nutrients from substrates. When the food has been digested, nutrients are distributed throughout the body.  Distribution of the nutrients occurs within an open-circulatory system. Within an open-circulatory system, the muscles are bathed in a fluid known as hemolymph that carries oxygen. Having an open-circulatory system is not a very efficient way to transport oxygen though the body, which is one of the reasons snails move so slowly.