Question

Malacophily is the pollination by
A. Insects.
B. Birds.
C. Snails.
D. Mammals.

Answer 1

Pollination is the process of pollen grains being transferred from a flower's male anther to its female stigma. Plants can produce offspring in a variety of ways, including by producing seeds. Animals such as insects, birds, and bats, as well as water, wind, and even plants themselves, when pollinating agents, which occur inside a closed bloom, are self-pollinating. Pollination may take place in a biotic or abiotic way. Pollen is moved from one flower to another by living pollinators in biotic pollination. Wind, water, and even rain is used for abiotic pollination.

Complete explanation:
Option A: Entomophily is the term for pollination carried out by insects. Flowers pollinated by insects usually have bright colours and occasionally prominent patterns (honey guides) that lead to pollen and nectar rewards; they may also have an appealing smell that mimics insect pheromones in some cases.
So, the option A is incorrect.
Option B: Ornithophily is the term for pollination carried out by birds. Bird pollination is mainly carried out by nectar-eating bird species. Since birds have a weak sense of smell, plants pollinated by birds also have elongated or tube-shaped, brightly coloured diurnal flowers that are red or orange, but no odour.
So, option B is incorrect.
Option C: Malacophily refers to the pollination of plants by snails and slugs. Malacophilous pollination is when snails and slugs assist in pollination, and malacophilous flowers are those that have been pollinated by snails and slugs.
So, option C is correct.
Option D: Pollen is transmitted by mammals, normally invertebrates but sometimes vertebrates, in a process known as zoophile. Chiropterophily is the term for pollination carried out by bats. Bat-pollinated plants have large, bell-shaped nocturnal flowers that are white or pale. Many of these flowers have a lot of nectar and a scent that bats want, such as a strong fruity or musky scent. To find food sources, bats use chemical cues. Aromas containing esters, alcohols, aldehydes, and aliphatic acids attract them.
So, option D is incorrect.

Hence, Option C is the correct answer.

Note:
A pollinator is an animal that transports pollen from a flower's male anther to the female stigma. This aids in the fertilisation of the ovules in the flower by pollen grains containing male gametes. Bees, ants, flies, lepidopterans and flower beetles are examples of insect pollinators. Certain plants are pollinated by vertebrates, mostly bats and birds, but also non-bat mammals and lizards. Pollinators play an important role in the conservation of both wild and cultivated plant populations. Entomophily is the term for pollination carried out by insects. Ornithophily is the term for pollination carried out by birds. Chiropterophily is the term for pollination carried out by bats. Malacophily refers to the pollination of plants by snails and slugs.