Q: What are gastropods?
A: Gastropods are the largest and most successful class of molluscs which include slugs, snails, abalones, limpets, cowries, conches, top shells, whelks, and sea slugs.
Q: How many known living species of gastropods exist?
A: There are approximately 60,000-75,000 known living species of gastropods.
Q: Where do gastropods predominantly live?
A: Most gastropods live in marine environments, but some also live in freshwater and on land.
Q: What is the fossil record of gastropods?
A: The fossil record of gastropods dates back to the later Cambrian.
Q: What was the primary habitat of gastropods in origin?
A: The primary habitat of gastropods in origin was as sea-floor predators.
Q: When did many lines of gastropods living today evolve?
A: Many lines of gastropods living today evolved in the Mesozoic era.
Q: What advantage did gastropods in the Mesozoic era take advantage of?
A: In the Mesozoic era, many gastropods took advantage of the huge supply of food on the sea floor.