9. Taxon Group: Gastropoda

This is part of the collection "DToL Taxon-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Marine Metazoa", lead by the Other Metazoa Working Group. The SOP collection contains guidance on how to process the various marine Metazoa species within the scope of the Darwin Tree of Life project. The guidance specifically refers to the tissue samples needed for DNA barcoding (which takes place at the Natural History Museum (NHM) and at the Marine Biological Association (MBA)) and outlines the dissected tissues required for whole genome sequencing, which takes place at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Every specimen is submitted for DNA barcoding first before potentially being sent to the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Definition: The class Gastropoda contains a vast total of named species, second only to the insects in overall number. They comprise of snails, slugs and whelks from marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments, and typically have a large muscular foot for movement as well as (in certain species) a single, asymmetrical, spiral shell.

Including: Specimens over 5mm; priority towards species with no current genome (as of SOP publication); Acmaiedae, Calliostomatidae, Lacunidae, Littorinidae. Hydrobiidae, Turritellidae, Aporrhaiidae, Capulidae, Calyptraeidae, Triviidae, Naticidae, Epitoniidae, Muricidae, Turridae. Opistobranchia, including Acteonidae, Philinidae, Tritoniidae, Dendronotidae, Dotoidae, Goniodorididae, Onchidorididae, Polyceridae, Archidorididae, Janolidae, Flabellinidae, Facelinidae, Aeolidiidae.

Excluding: Specimens under 5mm (eg. Rissoidae, Barleeidae). It is noted there are many gastropod species that measure under 5mm but they will not be appropriate for this SOP.

See the Guidelines for important details and checklists.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Jon Ablett at the Natural History Museum for assisting in assembly of this SOP.