A fossil gastropod (Macrochielus) from Robroyston.
Gastropods are the largest and most sucessful class of mollusc, and include modern snails and limpets. Scientists have identified 35,000 living species of gastropod and 15,000 fossil ones. Most gastropods have single coiled shells but a few, including slugs and sea slugs, do not have shells.
This Macrochielus lived during the Carboniferous Period (360-290 million years ago).
Reference: DB.7678
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
Carboniferous Period, fossils, gastropods, geology, Macrochielus, molluscs, shells