gastropod material gastropod The Gastropoda or gastropods, more commonly known as snails and slugs, are a large taxonomic class within the phylum Mollusca. Gastropoda (previously known as univalves and sometimes spelled "Gasteropoda") are a major part of the phylum Mollusca, and are the most highly diversified class in the phylum, with 65,000 to 80,000 living snail and slug species. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastropoda] The taxonomic class *Gastropoda* also includes snails that live in different habitats, such as land snails, marine and freshwater snails.. gastropoda mollusc requires discussion