Propodium
The Propodium is a technical term for the screw to describe the shape of the front foot portion in detail. It is derived from old Gr. πρό 'before' and πούς pous , genitive ποδός podos 'foot'
The propodium can be lobed to the side or to the front, or it can have some other special shape. The snails of the families Naticidae (moon snails), Olividae (olive snails) and Olivellidae (dwarf olive snails) have a large, lobed propodium that is used like a snowshoe or snowplough to move on the loose sediment. The flaps can e.g. B. be placed over the head and almost envelop the head of the snail.
literature
- Ulrich Lehmann: Paleontological Dictionary . 4th reviewed and expanded edition, 278 pages, Enke Verlag, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-432-83574-4