The Gastropods, led by Mestor, devoured the vegetation of the planet Jaconda.
Biology
The Gastropods resembled humanoid slugs. They left a sticky trail behind them when they moved. They laid eggs which could remain fertile in space. Since apparently only their leader, Mestor, could communicate verbally, and they obeyed his commands without question, it is possible that they possessed only vestigial intelligence. (TV: The Twin Dilemma)
Abilities
Gastropods had a form of mental powers which they could use to either kill individuals or take over their mind and communicate through them. They could also communicate telepathically. (TV: The Twin Dilemma)
History
Jaconda, once a verdant paradise, became a despoiled wasteland once the Gastropod appeared and made the Jacondans slaves in their own world. Their leader, Mestor, planned to make the Jaconda's sun go supernova so as to scatter Gastropod eggs into space. The Sixth Doctor killed Mestor and ended the reign of the Gastropods. (TV: The Twin Dilemma)
Behind the scenes
- According to The Brilliant Book 2012, a book that contains non-narrative based information, there was a fossilised Gastropod in Dr Henry Fizzog's Museum of the Macabre on Sardicktown.
- The name for this monster obviously derives from Gastropods, the biological class of slugs and snails.