What do herbivorous gastropods eat?

Herbivorous gastropods primarily feed by browsing and grazing on algae found on rocks and other surfaces. Using a specialized, ribbon-like organ called a radula, these mollusks scrape fine food particles from their environment, which are then collected into a mucous mass for digestion.1

Beyond basic algae grazing, dietary habits among herbivores vary:
* Seaweed consumption: Some larger prosobranch gastropods are selective herbivores that cut and swallow strips of seaweed.12
* Decaying matter: Many land snails feed on decaying plant matter, representing an evolutionary shift from the browsing behavior of their marine ancestors.2
* Specialized feeding: Certain groups, such as the sacoglossans, are known as algae-suckers.1

While many gastropods are herbivores, their feeding strategies are highly diverse and have evolved alongside modifications to their radular teeth to exploit various food sources.1