Physid Snail
Order: Basommatophora
Family: Physidae
Genus: Physa
Species: Various species
General Characteristics: The snails from this family have a sinistral shell (left turned) and body (lung opening at the left) and a mantle skirt with two lobes embracing the shell at the left and at the right side of the body.
These snails lay transparant eggs that are embedded in a firm, gelatinous clutch on plants, stones or other objects.
Special Adaptations: The mantle extension enlarges the body surface; probably to enhance the exchange of O2 and CO2 (sort of a gill function), which enables these pulmonates to stay submerged for longer periods.
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