Virtual Collection: Class Gastropoda, Paleozoic Examples

This virtual collection was last curated by Jonathan Hendricks on August 12, 2022.  Each model is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Unless otherwise indicated, each model was created by Emily Hauf using specimens at the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York.

An associated chapter about the Class Gastropoda is now available on the Digital Encyclopedia of Ancient Life.

Paleozoic Gastropoda

Many groups of Paleozoic Gastropoda are now completely extinct and their relationships to major extant groups are unclear. For this reason, the groups below are not assigned here to higher taxa. Learn more about Paleozoic gastropods on the DEAL.

Family Bellerophontidae

Fossil specimen of Bellerophon crassus, a member of the extinct snail clade Bellerophontidae (PRI 70112); specimen is from the Pennsylvanian Fort Scott Limestone of Oklahoma. Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Appoximate length of specimen is 4.5 cm.

Fossil bellerophont gastropods Ptomatis patulus (A, PRI 76693) and Retispira leda (B, PRI 76694) from the Devonian Moscow Formation of Madison, New York. Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Longest dimension of specimen is approximately 19 cm (whole slab) / 4.0 cm (Ptomatis) / 3.8 cm (Retispira). Model by Neil Pezzoni.

Family Gosseletinidae

Fossil specimen of the gastropod Trepospira sp. from the Pennsylvanian Graham Formation of Coleman County, Texas (PRI 70109). Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Specimen is approximately 3 cm in diameter.

Family Lophospiridae

A fossil specimen of the gastropod Worthenia tabulata from the Pennsylvanian Vamoosa Formation of Osage County, Oklahoma (PRI 70108). Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is approximately 3 cm.

Family Macluritidae

Fossil snail Maclurites sp. from the Ordovician Chazy Limestone of Clinton County, New York (PRI 76290). Specimen is on public display at the Museum of the Earth, Ithaca, New York. Diameter of shell is approximately 11 cm.

Family Platyceratidae

Fossil specimen of the gastropod Naticonema lineata from the Devonian Hamilton Group near Geneseo, New York (PRI 76749). Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Maximum dimension of specimen is approximately 3.5 cm.

Fossil specimen of the gastropod Platyostoma gebhardi from the Devonian of Schoharie, New York (PRI 76747). Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Longest dimension of specimen is approximately 3.5 cm.

Fossil gastropod Platyostoma lineata from the Devonian Hamilton Group of West Bloomfield, New York (PRI 50368). Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Longest dimension of specimen is approximately 3.1 cm. Model by Neil Pezzoni.

Fossil specimen of the gastropod Platyceras niagarensis from the Silurian Waldron Shale of Shelby County, Indiana (PRI 76748). Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Longest dimension of specimen is approximately 5 cm.

Fossil specimen of the gastropod Platyceras sp. attached to the calyx of the crinoid Arthracantha carpenteri; specimen is from the Devonian Arkona Shale of Ontario, Canada (PRI 76784). Specimen is from the collections of the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. Longest dimension of specimen is approximately 3.5 cm.