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.
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