The caudal mucous pit, or caudal mucous horn, is an anatomical structure on the tail end of the foot of various land snails and slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Ovachlamys_fulgens_3.jpg/220px-Ovachlamys_fulgens_3.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Geomalacus_maculosus_5.jpg/220px-Geomalacus_maculosus_5.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Ariophanta_interrupta.jpg/220px-Ariophanta_interrupta.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Arion_lusitanicus%2C_Adultform.jpg/220px-Arion_lusitanicus%2C_Adultform.jpg)
The function of this pit is the resorption of mucus when the gastropod is moving[1] (see also Muratov 1999).
An incorrect and yet often-used term for this structure is the "caudal gland".[1] This area also used to be referred to by the term "caudal pore".
Families
editFamilies of snails and slug where a caudal mucous pit exists in every species included:[1]
- Arionidae:
- Endodontidae
- Polygyridae
- Helicodiscidae
- Daudebardiinae (a subfamily of Oxychilidae)
- Urocyclidae
- Helicarionidae
- Ariophantidae
- Systrophiidae (Systrophiidae is a synonym for Scolodontinae, the subfamily of family Scolodontidae)
- Dyakiidae
Families/subfamilies where is caudal mucous pit exists only on some species included:[1]
- Ariopeltinae (a subfamily of Oopeltidae)
- Charopidae
- Binneyidae
- Ariolimacinae (a subfamily of Ariolimacidae)
- Anadenidae
- Trochomorphidae
- Helminthoglyptidae
- Ferussaciidae
- Subulinidae
- Euconulidae
- Zonitidae
- Vitreinae (Vitreinae is a synonym for Pristilomatidae)
- Gastrodontidae
References
edit- ^ a b c d Barker G. M. (2001) "Gastropods on Land: Phylogeny, Diversity and Adaptive Morphology." in Barker G. M. (ed.): "The biology of terrestrial molluscs". CABI Publishing, Oxon, UK, ISBN 0-85199-318-4. 1-146, cited pages: page 90 and pages 140-143.
Further reading
edit- Muratov I. V. (1999) "Analysis of the phylogenetic relationships and their systematic implications in the Limacoinei (=Zonitinia) infraorder (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Geophila)". Ruthenica 9: 5-26.