page_title: Parapodium
section_title: Gastropod parapodia
hierarchical_section_title: Parapodium / Gastropod parapodia
caption_attribution_description: English: Photo of dorsal view of a freshly collected intact Plakobranchus ocellatus showing its head, rhinophores and parapodia.
context_page_description: In invertebrates, the term parapodium refers to lateral outgrowths or protrusions from the body. Parapodia are predominantly found in annelids, where they are paired, un-jointed lateral outgrowths that bear the chaetae. In several groups of sea snails and sea slugs, 'parapodium' refers to lateral fleshy protrusions.
context_section_description: The fleshy protrusions on the sides of some marine gastropods are also called parapodia. They are particularly well-developed in sea butterflies. Some sea hares use their parapodia to swim. Parapodia can even be used for respiration (similar to gills) or for locomotion.
  Parapodia are found in the following taxonomic groups of gastropods:
  Clade Cephalaspidea
  Clade Thecosomata
  Clade Gymnosomata
  Clade Aplysiomorpha
caption: Dorsal view of a freshly collected intact sea slug, Plakobranchus ocellatus, showing its head, rhinophores and parapodia.
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