Nutrition

 

There is no information specifically on the nutrition of Daedalochila hausmani, but since it is a Gastropoda we can assume that it is similar.

Daedalochila hausmani from http://www.jaxshells.org/haus.htm. Author of photo is Harry G. Lee.

Many mollusks have a radula which was mentioned in the Adaption page.  A radula is a tongue-like structure that contains many chitinous teeth that are used from scraping, piercing, tearing, and cutting particles of food off (Hickman, 2009).  These teeth can also extend back and be used to carry food to digestive tract, somewhat like a conveyer belt (Hickman, 2009)

 

Snails have very different feeding habits and uses of their sharp radula.  Many are herbivores, some scavengers, and even some are carnivorous (Hickman, 2009)Daedalochila hausmani like other Polygyridaes are herbivores that feed on fruiting bodies of fungi or mycelia (Perez, 2008).  They can also eat plant material as seen in the laboratory (Perez, 2008).

 

In Gastropods, food is typically digested extracellularly in the lumen of the stomach or digestive gland (Hickman, 2009).  Since the development of torsion, the wastes are excreted out the anus, located anterior to the mouth (Hickman, 2009).  The location of both anus and mouth causes issues with sanitation, called torsion (Hickman, 2009).

 

 

 

Contact me.

Return to Home Page.

Learn more about the Reproduction.