Heterobranchia
superorder of molluscs / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Heterobranchs are a large group of snails and slugs. The group includes marine, aquatic and terrestrial gastropod molluscs.
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Taxonomic subcategories ...
Heterobranchia | |
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Four examples of Heterobranchia | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia J.E. Gray, 1840 |
Taxonomic subcategories | |
informal group Lower Heterobranchia |
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Heterobranchia is one of the main clades of gastropods. It has three informal groups: [1] The details are extremely complicated, and not yet quite worked out. Experts say they have "poorly resolved phylogenetic relationships".[2]
- Lower Heterobranchia: a group of rather specialized, highly evolved sea slugs and sea snails.
- Opisthobranchia: almost all are marine species, some shelled and some not. They are a group of slugs and snails with grinding gizzard plates.
- Pulmonata. This is a group which is familiar to most people. It includes most land snails and slugs, many freshwater snails and a few marine species. They breathe air, are hermaphrodite, and usually have no operculum.[3]