Image of: Pomacea paludosa (Florida applesnail)
ADW: 030.rjb1.jpg
Caption
Pomacea paludosa
. The
Pilidae
[synonym Ampullariidae] are peculiar because they have both gills and lung, the mantle cavity being divided to separate the two types of respiratory structures. Basically aquatic snails, the lung probably arose because of the snails' habitats - living in shallow water habitats that dry out for part of the year. Pilid snails have a siphon for taking in air when submerged.
Contributors
Dr. John B. Burch, Ph.D.
(photographer, copyright holder), Mollusk Division, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan
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