amandajohnson15
Tulip Snail
This specimen is a Tulip Snail, Fasciolaria tulipa, found along the coastline of Wrightsville beach. Like most gastropods the Tulip Snail has protective univalve shell that it can retreat into when it feels threatened. The shell also functions as a way to retain water when sealed shut so the snail will not dry out. However, for this to occur the Tulip Snail had to undergo internal adaptations. Snails have reduced the size of their internal organs over millions of years of evolution to fit in their shell. In this way they made a trade off of reduced organs for a protective shell and have become more fit for their environment.
Tulip Snail
This specimen is a Tulip Snail, Fasciolaria tulipa, found along the coastline of Wrightsville beach. Like most gastropods the Tulip Snail has protective univalve shell that it can retreat into when it feels threatened. The shell also functions as a way to retain water when sealed shut so the snail will not dry out. However, for this to occur the Tulip Snail had to undergo internal adaptations. Snails have reduced the size of their internal organs over millions of years of evolution to fit in their shell. In this way they made a trade off of reduced organs for a protective shell and have become more fit for their environment.