Adaptation
The class Gastropoda consists of aquatic, and terrestrial snails. The Patera panselenus is a terrestrial snail. There are many adaptations in which species need to make over time. There was limited information found on species Patera panselenus adaptations specifically, but since this species is it part of the sub-class Pulmonata and family Polygyridae information was able to be found.
One such area in which the sub-class Pulmonata has made
adaptations is for respiration. The gills have been reduced in
the mantle cavity
to become a single lung (Nordsieck, 2011).
This allows for terrestrial snails to not rely on water for
oxygen acquisition. Terrestrial snails fill the lung with air by
contracting the mantle floor
(Hickman et al.,
2011).
Another area in which Pulmonata snails have made great strides in adapting to land is to preserve moisture on the surface of their skin. Terrestrial snails look for damp environments such as dark places, under or by ledges(Nordsieck, 2011). Another adaptation is the lack of an operculum. Organisms that have an operculum, it is part of the posterior foot in which seals the snail into its shell to prevent drying out during periods of dry weather or drought (Nordsieck, 2011). Therefore, Patera panselenus do not have an operculum.
The family Polygyridae have adapted their sensory organs for living on land. The vision of these snails are strongly enhanced by the eyes being placed on top of the second (posterior) pair of tentacles (Nordsieck, 2011). These tentacles are capable of retracting in case for eye protection (Hickman et al., 2011). Another adaptation is for eating and obtaining nutrients. This adaptation would include ribbed jaws (Encyclopedia of Life, 2012).
Adaptations have also been observed for reproduction purposes. Specifically to the family Polygyridae, there is no existence of a dart apparatus or "love dart". A love dart is an important structure which other families of snails use for copulation(Nordsieck, 2011).