gastropod

[ gas-truh-pod ]

noun

1. any mollusk of the class Gastropoda, comprising the snails, whelks, slugs, etc.

adjective

1. Also gas·trop·o·dous [] belonging or pertaining to the gastropods.

gastropod

/ ɡæsˈtrɒpədən; ˈɡæstrəˌpɒd /

noun

1. any mollusc of the class Gastropoda, typically having a flattened muscular foot for locomotion and a head that bears stalked eyes. The class includes the snails, whelks, limpets, and slugs

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Gastropoda

gastropod

/ găs′trə-pŏd′ /

1. Any of various carnivorous or herbivorous mollusks of the class Gastropoda, having a head with eyes and feelers and a muscular foot on the underside of its body with which it moves. Most gastropods are aquatic, but some have adapted to life on land. Gastropods include snails, which have a coiled shell, and slugs, which have a greatly reduced shell or none at all.

Derived Forms

• gasˈtropodous, adjective
• gastropodan, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gastropod¹

First recorded in 1820–30, gastropod is from the New Latin word Gast(e)ropoda a class of mollusks. See gastro-, -pod

Word History

Snails, conchs, whelks, and many other similar animals with shells are all called gastropods by scientists. The word gastropod comes from Greek and means “stomach foot,” a name that owes its existence to the unusual anatomy of snails. Snails have a broad flat muscular “foot” used for support and for forward movement. This foot runs along the underside of the animal—essentially along its belly. The Greek elements gastro–, “stomach,” and –pod, “foot,” are found in many other scientific names, such as gastritis (an inflammation of the stomach) and sauropod (“lizard foot,” a type of dinosaur).

Example Sentences

But for Grace Pudel, the human protagonist of director Adam Elliot’s wily, melancholy new animated feature “Memoir of a Snail,” that gastropod is a symbol of the life she’s resigned herself to.

From Los Angeles Times

"Our research is the first to demonstrate that these nematodes infect and kill a non-target gastropod species in the Northwest, which due to its rainy climate is a land slug and snail biodiversity hotspot."

From Science Daily

Evidence, including the fossil record, shows that gastropods had a massive diversification and proliferation just after the asteroid hit, and it's known that terrestrial slugs are heavy predators of mushrooms.

From Science Daily

The endangered magnificent ramshorn snail is living in the wild in North Carolina again for the first time in 20 years following the reintroduction of 2,860 of the slow-moving gastropods into a pond.

From Washington Times

The unusual gastropod was found by Prof Angus Davison, from the University of Nottingham, near to his home in the city.

From BBC