THE LOPING OF LAND-SNAILS

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Abstract
Helix dupetithouarsi, a Cali-fornian snail, has been descr. by Carlson as creeping by a system of gigantic waves in which the foot is lifted well off the substrate, projected forward, and then brought again to the ground. These waves run over the snail from anterior to posterior and give the animal when moving the appearance of loping. They occur not only in this species but also in H. aspersa, a snail introduced from Europe into California. Both species like other helices creep by ordinary pedal waves which progress over the foot from posterior to anterior. Such pedal waves are invariably present when these snails are moving. When loping occurs this mode of locomotion is superimposed on ordinary pedal locomotion. The 2 systems of waves do not interfere one with the other though they pass over the foot in opposite directions. Loping is a means of facilitating ordinary creeping.

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