Sea snail
A sea snail is a marine gastropod mollusk, usually protected by a shell. The name covers many lineages, including whelks, conchs, and periwinkles.
Gastropoda: The mollusk class comprising snails and slugs, characterized by a muscular foot and a head that usually bears tentacles. Sea snails are marine members of this larger gastropod class.
Gastropod locomotion: Movement by gastropods, usually through waves of muscular contraction along the foot. Sea snails crawl across surfaces using this muscular mode of movement.
Conchology: The study of mollusk shells, especially their diversity, structure, and classification. Sea-snail shells are a major subject of this branch of malacology.
Slug: A gastropod mollusk with a reduced or absent external shell. Slugs share gastropod ancestry but lack the conspicuous shell typical of many sea snails.
Mollusca: A diverse animal phylum that includes gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods, typically with a soft body and mantle. Gastropods belong to this broader group of soft-bodied animals.
Mucus: A slippery secretion made by mucous glands, composed largely of water and glycoproteins. Foot mucus reduces friction and can help sea snails adhere to surfaces.
Malacology: The scientific study of mollusks, including their anatomy, classification, ecology, and evolution. Research on sea snails belongs within the broader study of mollusks.
Sea slug: A marine gastropod whose shell is absent, reduced, or internal in adulthood. Sea slugs are marine gastropods often contrasted with shelled sea snails.
Mantle (mollusk): A tissue layer in mollusks that covers the body and often secretes the shell. The mantle produces the shell that protects many sea snails.
Predatory gastropod: A gastropod that captures and consumes animal prey, using specialized feeding structures or toxins. Some sea snails hunt other animals rather than graze or filter-feed.