Orthogastropoda


Orthogastropoda was a major taxonomic grouping of snails and slugs, an extremely large subclass within the huge class Gastropoda according to the older taxonomy of the Gastropoda.
This taxon is no longer used according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005.
Ponder and Lindberg in the book The Southern Synthesis, showed the Orthogastropoda as one of two subclasses of the Gastropoda, the other subclass being a very much smaller group called the Eogastropoda, which contained only 5 families of true limpets.
This subclass, Orthogastropoda, which one perhaps could call the true snails, was defined most concisely as all gastropods which were not members of Patellogastropoda, the true limpets.
The Orthogastropoda appeared to form a clade which was supported by unambiguous synapomorphies. These synapomorphies were the identifying characteristics of the clade.
Some of the characteristics were:
The following is based on the somewhat out-dated taxonomy of the Gastropoda. For the most up-to-date system of gastropod taxonomy, please see Taxonomy of the Gastropoda.
Superorder Cocculiniformia Haszprunar, 1987
Superorder incertae sedis
Superorder Vetigastropoda Salvini-Plawen, 1989
Superorder Neritaemorphi Koken, 1896
Superorder Caenogastropoda Cox, 1960
Superorder Heterobranchia J.E. Gray, 1840