An example is Kimberella quadrata, which is interpreted as a very early snail-like mollusk. Most fossil snails come from marine species, which already exhibited a remarkable diversity of forms in the Cambrian und Ordovician period. However, the first confirmed fossil records of land snails are only known from the Jurassic.
Snails have shown an impressive adaptive radiation throughout their evolutionary history. This means they have adapted to a variety of habitats, both on land and in water. This adaptability is reflected in the diversity of their shell shapes and lifestyles. Depending on the estimate, there are between 43,000 and more than 240,000 species of snails. What is certain is that snails make up the majority of mollusk diversity. The shells of fossil snails often consist of robust materials like calcite and aragonite, which contribute to their good preservation. These well-preserved fossils offer valuable information about shell structures, lifestyles, and the evolutionary history of snails. However, it should be noted that not all gastropods have developed shells, and as a result, they are only very rarely preserved as fossils. Gastropods are a diverse and fascinating collection field for fossil enthusiasts.