The following is a glossary of common English language and scientific terms used in the description of gastropods.

• Abapical – away from the apex of a shell toward the base

• Acephalous – Headless. ^[1]

• Acinose – Full of small bulgings; resembling the kernel in a nut. ^[1]

• Aculeate – Very sharply pointed, as the teeth on the radula of some snails. ^[1]

• Acuminate – gradually tapering to a point, as the spire of some shells. ^[1]

• Acute – Sharp or pointed, as the spire of a shell, or the lip of a shell. ^[1]

• Adapical – toward the apex of a shell (↔ abapical)

• Admedian – Next to the central object, as the lateral teeth on the lingual membrane. ^[1]

• Adpressed – with overlapping whorls or with a suture tightly pressed to the previous whorl (preferred to the term appressed)

• Afferent – To bring in; when relating to a vessel or duct, indicating that it brings in its contents. ^[1]

• Amoeboid – Shaped like an amoeba, a small animalcule. ^[1]

• Amorphous – Without distinct form. ^[1]

• Amphibious – Inhabiting both land and water. ^[1]

• Amphidetic – With the ligament on both sides of the umbones. ^[1]

• Anal canal – Tubular of gutter-like opening in the shell of a gastropod through which excrements are expelled (see also: siphonal canal)

• Analogue – A likeness between two objects when otherwise they are totally different, as the wing of a bird and the wing of a butterfly. ^[1]

• Anastomosing – Coming together. ^[1]

• Annular – Made up of rings. ^[1]

• Anterior – The front or fore end. ^[1]

• Aquatic – Inhabiting the water. ^[1]

• Arborescent – Branching like a tree. ^[1]

• Arched – Bowed or bent in a curve. ^[1]

• Arcti-spiral – Tightly coiled, as some spiral shells. ^[1]

• Asphyxiating – Causing suspended animation; apparent death. ^[1]

• Assimilation – Act of converting one substance into another, as the changing of food-stuffs into living bodies. ^[1]

• Asymmetrical – Not symmetrical. ^[1]

• Atrium

• Atrophied – Wasted away. ^[1]

• Attenuate – Long and slender, as in some shells. ^[1]

• Auditory – Connected with the hearing. ^[1]

• Auricled – Eared, or with ear-like appendages. ^[1]

• Basal – The bottom or lower part. ^[1]

• Biangulate – With two angles. ^[1]

• Bicuspid or bicuspidate – Having two cusps. ^[1]

• Bifid – Having two arms or prongs. ^[1]

• Bifurcated – Having two branches. ^[1]

• Bilateral – With two sides. ^[1]

• Bilobed – With two lobes. ^[1]

• Blood sinus

• Bulbous – Swollen. ^[1]

• Calcareous – Composed of carbonate of lime. ^[1]

• Callosity – A hardened and raised bunch, as the callus on the columella of some shells. ^[1]

• Callus – A deposit of shelly matter. ^[1]

• Campanulate – Formed like a bell. ^[1]

• Canaliculate – Resembling a canal, as the deep sutures in some shells. ^[1]

• Cancellated – Formed of cross-bars, as the longitudinal and spiral lines which cross in some shells. ^[1]

• Cardiac pouch – Containing the heart and placed near the umb'ones of the shell. ^[1]

• Carinate – Keeled. ^[1] With keel.

• Cartilaginous – Like cartilage. ^[1]

• Caudal – Tail-like, or with a tail-like appendage. ^[1]

• Cellular – Made up of cells. ^[1]

• Cerebral – Pertaining to the brain. ^[1]

• Channeled – Grooved or formed like a channel. ^[1]

• Chitinous – Formed of chitin, as the radulas of gastropods. ^[1]

• Ciliary – By means of cilia. ^[1]

• Ciliated – Having cilia. ^[1]

• Cilium (plural cilia) – A lash; used to designate the hairs on the mantle, gills, etc. ^[1]

• Clavate – Club-shaped. ^[1]

• Coarctate – Pressed together, narrowed. ^[1]

• Concave – Excavated, hollowed out. ^[1]

• Conchiolin

• Conic – Shaped like a cone. ^[1]

• Connective – A part connecting two other parts, as a muscle connecting two parts of the body, or a nerve connecting two ganglia. ^[1]

• Constricted – Narrowed. ^[1]

• Contractile – Capable of being contracted or drawn in, as the tentacle of a snail. ^[1]

• Convex – Bulged out, as the whorls of some snails. ^[1]

• Convoluted – Rolled together. ^[1]

• Cordate – Heart-shaped. ^[1]

• Corneous – Horn-like, as the opercula of some gastropods. ^[1]

• Corrugated – Roughened by wrinkles. ^[1]

• Costate – Having rib-like ridges. ^[1]

• Crenulate – Wrinkled on the edges. ^[1]

• Crescentic – Like a crescent. ^[1]

• Cylindrical – Like a cylinder. ^[1]

• Decollated – Cut off, as the apex of some shells. ^[1]

• Decussated – With spiral and longitudinal lines intersecting, as the sculpture of some shells. ^[1]

• Deflexed – Bent downward, as the last whorl in some snails. ^[1]

• Dentate – With points or nodules resembling teeth, as the aperture of some snails. ^[1]

• Denticulate – Finely dentate. ^[1]

• Depressed – Flattened, as the spire in some snails. ^[1]

• Dextral – Right-handed. ^[1]

• Digitiform – Finger-like. ^[1]

• Dilated – Expanded in all directions, as the aperture of a shell. ^[1]

• Dimorphism – With two forms or conditions. ^[1]

• Dioecious – Having the sexes in two individuals, one male and one female. ^[1]

• Distal – The farthest part from an object. ^[1]

• Discoidal – Shaped like a flat disk. ^[1]

• Diverticulum – A pouch or hole, as the pouch containing the radula, or that containing the dart in helices. ^[1]

• Dormant – In a state of torpor or sleep. ^[1]

• Dorsal – The back. In gastropods the opposite to the aperture. ^[1]

• Ectocone – The outer cusp on the teeth of the radula. ^[1]

• Edentulous – Without teeth or folds, as the aperture in some gastropods. ^[1]

• Efferent – Carrying out. ^[1]

• Elliptical – With an oval form. ^[1]

• Elongated – Drawn out, as the spire of a shell. ^[1]

• Emarginate – Bluntly notched. ^[1]

• Encysted – Enclosed in a cyst. ^[1]

• Entocone – The inner cusp on the teeth of the radula. ^[1]

• Entire – With even, unbroken edges, as the aperture of some shells. ^[1]

• Epiphallus – A portion of the vas deferens which becomes modified into a tube-like organ and is continued beyond the apex of the penis; it frequently bears a blind duct, or flagellum. ^[1]

• Epithelium – All tissues bounding a free surface. ^[1]

• Equidistant – Equally spaced, as the spiral lines on some snail shells. ^[1]

• Equilibrating – Balancing equally. ^[1]

• Eroded – Worn away, as the epidermis on some shells. ^[1]

• Erosive – Capable of erosion. ^[1]

• Excavated – Hollowed out, as the columella of some snails. ^[1]

• Excurrent – Referring to the siphon which carries out the waste matter of the body. ^[1]

• Exoskeleton – The outer skeleton; all shells are exoskeletons. ^[1]

• Exserted – Brought out. ^[1]

• Expanded – Spread out, as the lip of some shells. ^[1]

• Falcate – Scythe-shaped. ^[1]

• Fasciculus – A little bundle. ^[1]

• Flagellate – Animals with a flagellum or lash. ^[1]

• Flexuous – Formed in a series of curves or turnings, as the columella in some shells. ^[1]

• Flocculent – Clinging together in bunches. ^[1]

• Fluviatile – Living in running streams. ^[1]

• Fusiform – Thick in the middle and tapering at each end. ^[1]

• Gelatinous – Like jelly, as the eggs of some mollusks. ^[1]

• Gibbous – Very much rounded, as the whorls in some snails. ^[1]

• Glandular – Like a gland. ^[1]

• Globose – Rounded. ^[1]

• Granulated – Covered with little grains. ^[1]

• Gravid – A female mollusk with ovaries distended with young. ^[1]

• Gregarious – Living in colonies. ^[1]

• Gular – Relating to the windpipe or palate. In mollusks, referring to the innermost part of the aperture. ^[1]

• Habitat – Locality of a species. ^[1]

• Hasmolymph – Molluscan blood. ^[1]

• Heliciform – In form like Helix . ^[1]

• Hemispherical – Half a sphere. ^[1]

• Herbivorous – Subsisting upon vegetable food. ^[1]

• Hermaphrodite – Having the sexes united in the same individual. ^[1]

• Hibernation – The act of hibernating or going to sleep for the winter months. ^[1]

• Hirsute – Covered with hairs, as some snails. ^[1]

• Hispid – Same as hirsute. ^[1]

• Homologous – Having the same position or value, as the wing of a bird and of a bat. ^[1]

• Hyaline – Glassy. ^[1]

• Imperforate – Not perforated or umbilicated. ^[1]

• Impressed – Marked by a furrow, as the impressed spiral lines on some gastropod shells. ^[1]

• Incrassate – Thickened. ^[1]

• Incurved – Leaned or bent over, as the apex in some snails. ^[1]

• Indented – Notched. ^[1]

• Inflected – Turned in, as the teeth of some snails. ^[1]

• Inhalent – Same as incurrent. ^[1]

• Inoperculate – Without an operculum. ^[1]

• Intercostate – Between the ribs or ridges. ^[1]

• Invaginate – One part bending into another, as the tentacles of some land snails. ^[1]

• Invertible – Capable of being inverted, or drawn in, as the eye-peduncles of a land snail. ^[1]

• Juvenile

• Keeled – With a more or less sharp projection at the periphery. ^[1]

• Lamellated – Covered with scales. ^[1]

• Lamelliform – Having the form of scales. ^[1]

• Laminated – Consisting of plates or scales laid over each other. ^[1]

• Lanceolate – Gradually tapering to a point. ^[1]

• Lateral – Pertaining to the side. ^[1]

• Latticed – (See decussated.) ^[1]

• Lobulate – Composed of lobes. ^[1]

• Longitudinal – The length of a shell. ^[1]

• Lunate – Shaped like a half moon, as the aperture in some shells. ^[1]

• Malleated – Appearing as though hammered. ^[1]

• Manducatory – Relating to the apparatus for masticating food. In snails, the jaws and radula. ^[1]

• Median – Middle, as the middle tooth on the radula. ^[1]

• Mesocene – The middle cusp on the teeth of the radula. ^[1]

• Monoecius – Having the sexes united in the same individual. ^[1]

• Multifid – Made up of many lobes or projections, as the cusps on some radulae. ^[1]

• Multispiral – Consisting of many whorls, as some fresh-water snails. ^[1]

• Nacreous – Pearly or iridescent. ^[1]

• Nepionic – The second stage of the embryonic shell, as the glochidium. ^[1]

• Notched – Nicked or indented, as the anterior canal of some gastropods. ^[1]

• Nucleus – The first part or beginning, as the apex in a gastropod shell. ^[1]

• Nucleated – Having a nucleus. ^[1]

• Obconic – In the form of a reversed cone. ^[1]

• Oblique – Slanting, as the aperture of some shells when not parallel to the longitudinal axis. ^[1]

• Obovate – Reversed ovate, as some shells when the diameter is greater near the upper than at the lower part. ^[1]

• Obtuse – Dull or blunt, as the apex of some gastropods. ^[1]

• Olfactory – Pertaining to the smell. ^[1]

• Olivaceous – Colored like an olive. ^[1]

• Organism – An organized being, or living object made up of organs. ^[1]

• Ovate – Egg-shaped. ^[1]

• Ovately conic – Shaped like an egg, but with a somewhat conic apex, as some gastropods. ^[1]

• Oviparous – Bringing forth young in an egg which is hatched after it is laid. ^[1]

• Ovisac – A pouch in which the eggs or embryos are contained. ^[1]

• Ovoviviparous – In this case the young are formed in an egg but are hatched inside the parent. ^[1]

• Pallial lung

• Papillose – Covered with many little bulgings or pimples. ^[1]

• Parallel – Having the same relative distance in all parts, as when the spiral lines in univalve shells are the same distance apart all the way around. ^[1]

• Patelliform – Shaped like a flattened-out cone, as an Ancylus . ^[1]

• Patulous – Open and spreading, as the aperture in some gastropods. ^[1]

• Paucispiral – Only slightly spiral, as some opercula. ^[1]

• Pectinate – Like the teeth of a comb, as the gills of some mollusks. ^[1]

• Pedal – Pertaining to the foot. ^[1]

• Pedunculated – Supported on a stem or stalk, as the eyes of land snails. ^[1]

• Pellucid – Transparent or clear, as the shells of some snails; e. g. Vitrea . ^[1]

• Penultimate – The whorl before the last in gastropod shells. ^[1]

• Pericardium – The chamber containing the heart. ^[1]

• Periostracum – The epidermal covering of some shells. ^[1]

• Pervious – Very narrowly open, as the umbilicus in some snails. ^[1]

• Phytophagus – Vegetable-feeding. ^[1]

• Pilose – Covered with hairs. ^[1]

• Pinnate – Branched like a feather, as the gills of some mollusks. ^[1]

• Plaited – Folded. ^[1]

• Planispiral shell

• Planorboid – Flat and orb-like, as some snails. ^[1]

• Pleurae – Relating to the side of a body. ^[1]

• Plexus – A network of vessels, as the form of the lungs in snails. ^[1]

• Plicated – Made up of folds. ^[1]

• Plumose – Resembling plumes. ^[1]

• Polygonal – Having many angles. ^[1]

• Porcellanous – Like porcelain. ^[1]

• Prismatic – Like a prism. ^[1]

• Prodissoconch – The embryonic shell. ^[1]

• Protoconch – The embryonic shell. ^[1]

• Protract – To push out. ^[1]

• Protractor pedis – The foot protractor muscle. ^[1]

• Protrusile – Capable of being pushed out. ^[1]

• Proximal – The nearest end of an object. ^[1]

• Pulsation – A throb, as the throbbing of the heart. ^[1]

• Pupiform – Like a pupa; one of the stages in the development of an insect. ^[1]

• Pustulate – Covered with pustules or little pimples. ^[1]

• Pustulose – Same as pustulate. ^[1]

• Pyramidal – Having the form of a pyramid. ^[1]

• Pyriform – Shaped like a pear. ^[1]

• Reflected – Bent backward, as the lip in some snails. ^[1]

• Reflexed – Same as Reflected. ^[1]

• Renal – Relating to the kidneys. ^[1]

• Reticulated – Resembling a network, as when the longitudinal and spiral lines cross in a snail. ^[1]

• Retractile – Capable of being drawn in, as the eye peduncles in land snails. ^[1]

• Retractor pedis – Foot retractor muscle. ^[1]

• Revolving lines – Spiral lines on a snail shell which run parallel with the sutures. ^[1]

• Rhombic – Having four sides, the angles being oblique. ^[1]

• Rhomboid – Four-sided, but two of the sides being longer than the others. ^[1]

• Rimate – Provided with a very small hole or crack, as some snails in which the umbilicus is very narrowly open. ^[1]

• Roundly lunate – Rounder than lunate (which see). ^[1]

• Rostriform – In the form of a rostrum. ^[1]

• Rudimentary – Not fully formed; imperfect. ^[1]

• Rugose – Rough or wrinkled, as parts of some shells. ^[1]

• Sacculated – Somewhat like a sac, or composed of sac-like parts. ^[1]

• Scalar – Resembling a ladder. ^[1]

• Secreted – Produced or deposited from the blood or glands, as the shell material in mollusks. ^[1]

• Semicircular – Half round or circular, as the aperture in some snails. ^[1]

• Semidentate – Half toothed, as the parietal wall in some land snails. ^[1]

• Semielliptic – Half elliptical. ^[1]

• Semiglobose – Half, or not quite globose. ^[1]

• Semilunate – Half lunate. ^[1]

• Semioval – Half, or not quite oval. ^[1]

• Serrated – Notched, like the teeth on a saw. ^[1]

• Serriform – In the form of series. ^[1]

• Sessile – Attached without a stem, as the eyes in some water snails. ^[1]

• Shouldered – Ridged, as the whorls in some snails. ^[1]

• Sigmoid – Shaped like the letter S. ^[1]

• Siliceous – Made up of silex. ^[1]

• Sinistral – Having the aperture on the left side. ^[1]

• Sinusigerid – with a diagonally cancellate (structure)

• Sinuous – Curved in and out, as the edge of some bivalves and the lips of some snails. ^[1]

• Siphonal canal – semi-tubular extension of the aperture of the shell through which the siphon is extended when the animal is active

• Spatulate – In the form of a spatula, a flat-bladed instrument used by druggists in pulverizing drugs. ^[1]

• Spherical – Shaped like a sphere. ^[1]

• Spiral – Wound about a central cavity, as the whorls of snails. ^[1]

• Striated – Marked by lines or striae. ^[1]

• Subangulated – Moderately angled. ^[1]

• Subcarinated – Moderately carinated. ^[1]

• Subcentral – Not quite in the center. ^[1]

• Subcircular – Not quite circular. ^[1]

• Subconical – Moderately conical. ^[1]

• Subcylindrical – Moderately cylindrical. ^[1]

• Subequal – Not quite equal. ^[1]

• Subexcavated – A little excavated. ^[1]

• Subfusiform – Moderately fusiform. ^[1]

• Subglobose – Moderately globose. ^[1]

• Subglobular – Moderately globular. ^[1]

• Subhyaline – Moderately glassy. ^[1]

• Subimperforate – Not much perforated. ^[1]

• Suboblong – Moderately oblong. ^[1]

• Subobsolete – Almost disappearing. ^[1]

• Subovate – Nearly ovate. ^[1]

• Subparallel – Almost parallel. ^[1]

• Subperforated – Almost perforated. ^[1]

• Subquadrate – Almost four-sided. ^[1]

• Subreflected – Moderately turned back. ^[1]

• Subrotund – Moderately round. ^[1]

• Subspiral – Moderately spiral. ^[1]

• Subtriangulate – Moderately or almost triangular. ^[1]

• Subtrigonal – Moderately three-angled. ^[1]

• Subtruncate – Moderately cut off. ^[1]

• Subumbilicated – Moderately umbilicated. ^[1]

• Sulcated – Grooved. ^[1]

• Sulcus – A longitudinal furrow. ^[1]

• Superanal – Above the anus. ^[1]

• Supra-peripheral – Above the periphery. ^[1]

• Symmetrical – Alike on both sides or uniform in all parts. ^[1]

• Terrestrial – Living on the land. ^[1]

• Testaceous – Composed of shelly matter. ^[1]

• Torsion – A twisting around. ^[1]

• Tortuous – Twisted or winding. ^[1]

• Torpid – Half unconscious or asleep, as a snail during hibernation. ^[1]

• Translucent – Not quite transparent; light is seen through the thin edges of the object. ^[1]

• Transparent – Objects may be seen through the substance. ^[1]

• Transverse – Referring to the form of a shell when it is wider than high. ^[1]

• Tricuspidate – Having three cusps. ^[1]

• Trifid – Having three branches. ^[1]

• Trigonal – Having three angles. ^[1]

• Trilobate – Having three lobes. ^[1]

• Tripartite – Divided into three parts, as the foot of some snails. ^[1]

• Truncate – Having the end cut off squarely. ^[1]

• Tuberculate – Covered with tubercles or rounded knobs. ^[1]

• Turbinate – Having the form of a top. ^[1]

• Turriculated – Having the form of a tower. ^[1]

• Turreted – Having the form of a tower. ^[1]

• Umbilicated – Having an opening in the base of the shell. ^[1]

• Undulated – Having undulations or waves. ^[1]

• Univalve – Having the shell composed of a single piece, as a snail. ^[1]

• Varicose – Swollen or enlarged. ^[1]

• Vascular – Containing or made up of blood vessels. ^[1]

• Vermiform – Formed like a worm. ^[1]

• Ventral – The lower border or side. ^[1]

• Ventricose – Swollen or inflated on the ventral side. ^[1]

• Vibratile – Moving from side to side. ^[1]

• Vitreous – Resembling glass, as some snails. ^[1]

See also

• Outline of gastropods
• Glossary of biology
• Glossary of scientific names
• Glossary of scientific naming

References

This article include public domain text from Baker, The Mollusca of the Chicago area, 1898-1902. ^[1]