Pulmonata

Mollusc subclass that consists mainly of terrestrial snails, in which the mantle cavity has developed as a lung.

To prevent desiccation the mantle skirt is fused with the head and respiration is achieved via a small opening, the pneumostome, which is controlled by sphincter muscles. In winter, hibernating forms seal the shell opening with a hard mucus plug. The group is hermaphroditic. In the more advanced forms, including the land snails, there is a very complicated method of reproduction in which a pair of snails stimulate each other by each shooting a dart into the other.

Classification Pulmonata is in class Gastropoda in phylum Mollusca.