Caution ahead: reassessing the functional morphology of the respiratory organs in amphibious snails

Abstract

After a long hiatus, interest in the morphology of the respiratory organs in apple snails (Ampullariidae, Caenogastropoda) and its functional and evolutionary bearings is making a comeback. The variability in the morphology of the gill and lung and its link to different lifestyles and patterns of air dependency within the Ampullariidae make research on the morphology of the respiratory organs particularly suitable for approaching the evolution of terrestriality in animals. Additionally, morphology is a valuable source of hypotheses regarding the several functions the ampullariid respiratory organs have besides respiration. However, this is an underexplored field that only recently has incorporated ultrastructural and three-dimension visualization tools and in which more research is much needed, particularly, comparisons between species representing the diversity within the Ampullariidae. In this paper, I examine Mueck, Deaton & Lee’s (2020a) assessment of the morphology of the gill and lung of Pomacea maculata and compare it with earlier and contemporary studies on other ampullariid species. I show that Mueck, Deaton & Lee’s paper combines significant morphological misinterpretations, conceptual and terminological mistakes, and crucial literature omissions. I also reinterpret their results and point to the similarities and differences between them and available data on other ampullariids.