ClimateAugust 27, 2026
gastropods
GAS-truh-podz
Definition
A class of mollusks, such as snails, slugs, or limpets, that often have a single shell and are found in various aquatic and land environments.
Etymology
The word originates from the Greek 'gaster' meaning 'stomach' and 'pous' meaning 'foot,' referring to the way these animals appear to move on their 'foot' located directly beneath their stomach.
In the news
In this article, the author describes 'death horizons' in coral skeletons, where the growth of reef organisms like algae and gastropods marks a period when the original coral died due to extreme heat.
Galápagos corals show El Niño events are more extreme now than in past 1,000 years – here’s how my team made the discovery - 28-Aug-2026 - NZ Environment news
Read the full article ↗NZ City