SlugSlug or land slug is a common name for any apparently shell-less terrestrialgastropodmollusc. The word slug is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell, a very reduced shell, or only a small internal shell, particularly sea slugs and semi-slugs (this is in contrast to the common name snail, which applies to gastropods that have a coiled shell large enough that they can fully retract their soft parts into it).
MucusMucus (, ) is a slippery gel produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. Mucus forms a protective barrier between epithelial cells on the internal and external surfaces of the body and the outside environment. Mucus is found in the linings of the respiratory, digestive, and urogenital systems, and in the eyes and ears. Mucus helps to trap and remove inhaled particles, and prevent the entry of pathogenicfungi, bacteria and viruses at different sites.
GastropodGastropods (; previously known as Univalves; class Gastropoda) are a vast and diverse group of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca, comprising the animals commonly known as snails and slugs. With an estimated 65,000 to 80,000 living species, they form the second-largest animal class after the insects. The fossil record of gastropods extends back to the Late Cambrian.
Land snailA land snail is any of the numerous species of snail that live on land, as opposed to the sea snails and freshwater snails. Land snail is the common name for terrestrialgastropodmollusks that have shells (those without shells are known as slugs). However, it is not always easy to say which species are terrestrial, because some are more or less amphibious between land and fresh water, and others are relatively amphibious between land and salt water.
Reproductive system of gastropodsThe reproductive system of gastropods (slugs and snails) varies greatly from one group to another within this very large and diverse taxonomic class of animals. Their reproductive strategies also vary greatly. In many marine gastropods, there are separate sexes (male and female); most terrestrial gastropods however are hermaphrodites. Courtship is a part of the behaviour of mating gastropods.
SecretionSecretion is the movement of material from one point to another, such as a secreted chemical substance from a cell or gland. In contrast, excretion is the removal of certain substances or waste products from a cell or organism. The classical mechanism of cell secretion is via secretory portals at the plasma membrane called porosomes.
GlycosaminoglycanGlycosaminoglycans (GAGs, formerly mucopolysaccharides) are linear polysaccharides of repeating disaccharide (two-sugar) units, consisting of one uronic sugar and one amino sugar. They are an evolutionarily ancient component of the extracellular matrix and connective tissues in the kingdom Animalia, with the most basal group featuring true GAGs being the genus Hydra.
GelA gel is a semi-solid that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady state, although the liquid phase may still diffuse through this system. Gels are mostly liquid by mass, yet they behave like solids because of a three-dimensional cross-linked network within the liquid.
LubricantA lubricant (sometimes shortened to lube) is a substance that helps to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated when the surfaces move. It may also have the function of transmitting forces, transporting foreign particles, or heating or cooling the surfaces. A lubricant's effectiveness against friction is measured as its lubricity and the study of lubrication in material science is known as tribology.
DesiccationDesiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic (attracts and holds water) substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container. The word desiccation comes from Latin de-'thoroughly' and siccare'to dry'. IndustryDesiccation is widely employed in the oil and gas industry.
SnailA snail is a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name snail is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have a coiled shell that is large enough for the animal to retract completely into. When the word "snail" is used in this most general sense, it includes not just land snails but also numerous species of sea snails and freshwater snails.
MolluscaMollusca is a phylum of protostomicinvertebrateanimals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). 86,600 extantspecies of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum after Arthropoda. The number of additional fossil species is estimated between 60,000 and 100,000, and the proportion of undescribed extant species is very high. Many taxa remain poorly studied.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.