Adaptation

G. rhoadsi, and all members of the class Gastropoda, have specific adaptations which allow them to be specialized and function successfully in their environment.  The first of these adaptations is the presence of an air-breathing lung (Eisenhour et al. 2007). This is something that is unique to the gastropods and has allowed them to inhabit the areas which they do.  Another important adaptations is the presence of a prominent, muscular foot (Eisenhour et al. 2007).  This foot allows them to move along the forest floor and graze for food.  Also important to their feeding habits, is the presence of their chitinous radula (Eisenhour et al. 2007).  This adaptation has allowed them to scrape up food into their mouth while moving along in the environment.  Lastly, G.rhoadsi has two pairs of sensitive tentacles.  These tentacles have sensory organs such as eyes and chemosensory receptors which function to sense the surrounding environment (Eisenhour et al., 2007).

As with any species, Glyphyalinia rhoadsi and other members of Glyphyalinia face barriers which may force separation of populations.   Some of these barriers for Glyphyalinia snails include large water bodies or large areas of dry land which get less than six inches of precipitation annually (Nature Serve, 2009).  Even areas that are dry, but not to this extreme level, may pose a problem to G. rhoadsi.  They may not be able to easily cross these dry regions.   In all of these instances, the barriers may cause interbreeding to cease between two formerly interacting populations.  When populations no longer inter-mix they begin to adapt and evolve independently, forming unique characteristics.

These adaptations have allowed them to become specialized for a specific feeding type.  The nutrition tab will provide more information about this.

Home