Adaptations
While no specific information regarding Inflectarius inflectus could be found, it can be assumed that they follow the same general adaptations of other land snails. The gastropods are the most diverse class of molluscs. In fact, about three-quarters of molluscs are gastropods (Campbell et al. 2008). This class has clearly made many adaptations that allow them to survive.
The trait that distinguishes gastropods form the other molluscs is torsion, which is the 180 degree twist of the visceral mass (Campbell et al. 2008). Torsion, which happens during embryonic development, brings the anus and mantle cavity to a position above the head (Campbell et al. 2008).
While most gastropods are marine, some have adapted to life on land. Inflectarius inflectus has done just that. Terrestrial snails lack the gills found on aquatic gastropods. The lining of their mantle cavity functions as a lung by exchanging respiratory gases with air (Campbell et al. 2008).
Snails can retreat into their shell when threatened by a predator or to prevent desiccation. Some snails hibernate during the winter while others estivate in the summer during dry conditions (Hickman et al. 2009). If snails are not able to hibernate or estivate, they could die. Land snails have a muscular foot which uses mucus to allow them to move and also keeps them from drying out (Hickman et al. 2009).
Snails developed a radula which is used for feeding. There are also two tentacles which contain sense organs of touch, smell, taste, and vision(Hickman et al. 2009). An example of a pair of tentacles can be seen below.
The mantle is attached to the shell, and makes shell growth possible by secretion (Hickman et al. 2009). Some land snails create shells that are entirely formed from the protein conchin (Hickman et al. 2009). Land snails need a good supply of calcium in their diet and environment to produce a strong shell (Hickman et al. 2009).
