Tracheal respiration in Pila?

Pila is a genus of freshwater snails that belong to the family Ampullariidae. These snails have a specialized respiratory system that allows them to breathe air. They possess a lung-like structure called a pallial cavity, which is located above the mantle cavity.

Tracheal respiration in Pila involves the exchange of gases between the snail and the surrounding air. The snail breathes by periodically coming to the water's surface and extending its pallial cavity above the waterline. The pallial cavity is lined with numerous blood vessels that are in close contact with the air. Oxygen from the air diffuses across the thin walls of the pallial cavity and into the blood vessels, while carbon dioxide is released from the blood into the air.

This adaptation allows Pila snails to survive in environments with low oxygen levels or stagnant water, where gills would not be as efficient. By breathing air, they can extract oxygen directly from the atmosphere, enabling them to live in various freshwater habitats.