What type of respiration do banana slugs use?

Prepare for the UCSC Slug Test. Discover comprehensive study tools with flashcards and extensive question sets that include helpful hints and detailed explanations. Nail your exam preparation!

Multiple Choice

What type of respiration do banana slugs use?

Explanation:
Banana slugs breathe air using a lung-like mantle cavity connected to the outside by a small opening called the pneumostome. This makes them pulmonate, air-breathing gastropods, where gas exchange occurs primarily through that mantle cavity rather than through external gills or a tracheal system. While moisture on the skin can contribute a bit to diffusion, the major mechanism is the air-breathing system via the pneumostome. Insects use a tracheal system, and aquatic mollusks rely on gills, so those options don’t fit for banana slugs.

Banana slugs breathe air using a lung-like mantle cavity connected to the outside by a small opening called the pneumostome. This makes them pulmonate, air-breathing gastropods, where gas exchange occurs primarily through that mantle cavity rather than through external gills or a tracheal system. While moisture on the skin can contribute a bit to diffusion, the major mechanism is the air-breathing system via the pneumostome. Insects use a tracheal system, and aquatic mollusks rely on gills, so those options don’t fit for banana slugs.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy