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Mollusca
Mollusks…
- Possess an unsegmented soft body,
and most have a prominent shell.
- occupy habitats ranging from the deep
ocean to shallow waters to moist
terrestrial niches.
- Certain mollusks constitute important
food staples, such as the shrimp.
- possess a flexible body wall,
which surrounds a body cavity
containing the internal organs.
- The shell is formed by secretions
of glandular cells in the mantle.
- Bilaterally Symmetrical.
- Have circulatory, respiratory,
digestive, excretory, nervous,
& reproductive systems.
- Most have separate sexes that
cross-fertilize eggs.
General
Features of
Mollusks…
Mantle
- Serves as “skin” surrounding visceral
mass.
- It’s outer surface secretes cells forming
the shell.
- It houses the respiratory organs.
- Is adapted for swimming in Cephalopods.
Foot
- Is the major characteristic
used for classification.
- Is adapted for LOCOMOTION.
- Usually ventral, broad, flat and
muscular.
Radul
a food into the
- Scrape
mouth/ pharynx.
Shel
l
- Secreted by
the Mantle for
protection.
3 Layers of the
Shell
Periostracu
m - Protector
against
erosions and
Prismatic
- Thick
other animals.
Layer calcium
Nacreouscarbonate
- Responsible for
Layer
Classes
of
Phylum
Mollusc
a
Gastropoda
…
- Also called as UNIVALVES,
having one shell.
- Very striking in it’s
diversification of habitats
-During their larval life stages, all
gastropods go through a body-
change process called torsion, or
twisting.
-Includes snails and
slugs …
Bivalvia
…
- Commonly known as BIVALVES, having two
shells.
- These valves or shells are joined together
by a hinge or ligament on it’s dorsal side.
- These valves are also controlled by the
retraction of the adductor muscles.
- The head
and radula
is not
present in
Bivalves…wide variety of clams,
- Bivalves includes a
- Most are
carnivores
that feed on
fishes,
crustaceans
- Number of tentacles range from 8…
To…
90
!
- All can swim, propelling themselves
backwards by expelling water forcefully.
Importance of
Mollusks…
- Used by humans as FOOD.
- Serve as intermediate
hosts for some parasites
such as flukes.