Epiphragm
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Revision as of 10:40, 11 April 2016 by Karl Jones (Talk | contribs) (Created page with "An '''epiphragm''' is a temporary structure which can be created by many species of shelled, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks. == Descripti...")
An epiphragm is a temporary structure which can be created by many species of shelled, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks.
Description
It can also be created by freshwater snails when temporary pools dry up.
In most species the epiphragm is made of dried mucus and although it is elastic, it is fairly easily torn when forcibly removing a snail from its substrate.
In a few species the epiphragm is thick and quite rigid, being reinforced with calcium carbonate.
This kind of epiphragm is very strong and may be difficult to break.
See also
External
- Epiphragm @ Wikipedia
[[Category:Animals]
