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What are the members of phylum Mollusca

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Olivia Owen

Published Apr 24, 2026

The phylum Mollusca is the second-largest animal phylum, with over 100,000 species. The molluscs include many familiar animals, including clams, snails, slugs, and squid, as well as some less familiar animals, like tusk shells and chitons (Fig.

What are the 5 main classes of Mollusca?

ClassMajor organismsGastropodaall snails and slugs including abalone, limpets, conch, nudibranchs, sea hares, sea butterfliesBivalviaclams, oysters, scallops, geoducks, mussels, rudists†PolyplacophorachitonsCephalopodasquid, octopuses, cuttlefish, nautiluses, Spirula, belemnites†, ammonites†

What are the 3 classes of phylum Mollusca?

  • Mollusks are subdivided into seven classes with most species found in three of those classes: Gastropoda, Bivalvia, and Cephalopoda.
  • Gastropods make up the largest class of mollusks, and they include both snails and slugs.

What are the 8 classes of Mollusca?

The Phylum Mollusca consist of 8 classes: 1) the Monoplacophora discovered in 1977; 2) the worm-like Aplacophora or solenogasters of the deep sea; 3) the also worm-like Caudofoveata; 4) the Polyplacophora, or chitons; 5) the Pelecypoda or bivalves; 6) the Gastropoda or snails; 7) the Scaphopoda, or tusk shells; and 8) …

What are the 6 molluscs?

Class Gastropoda – snails, slugs, limpets, whelks, conchs, periwinkles, etc. Class Bivalvia – clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, cockles, shipworms, etc. The Class Scaphopoda contains about 400 species of molluscs called tooth or tusk shells, all of which are marine.

How many mollusks are there?

Along with the insects and vertebrates, mollusks are one of the most diverse groups in the animal kingdom, with nearly 100,000 (possibly as many as 150,000) described species. This is a list of notable mollusks, ordered alphabetically by class.

What are five characteristics of phylum Mollusca?

Molluscs (also know as mollusks) are soft-bodied, bilaterally symmetrical, segmented, coelomate animals; usually shelled having a mantle, ventral foot, anterior head, and a dorsal visceral mass.

Which of the following belong to phylum Mollusca?

The animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca are apple snail, pearl oyster, devil fish, tusk shell, etc.

Which of these class is phylum Mollusca?

Classes in Phylum Mollusca This phylum can be segregated into seven classes: Aplacophora, Monoplacophora, Polyplacophora, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, and Scaphopoda.

What is the order of Mollusca?
  • GASTROPODA (single shelled cowries, cones etc)
  • BIVALVIA ( two shelled like clams, mussels etc)
  • APLACOPHORA (solenogasters)
  • MONOPLACOPHORA (segmented limpets)
  • POLYPLACOPHORA ( or Amphineura as it was earlier called- Chitons)
  • SCAPHOPODA (tusk shells)
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How the members of phylum Mollusca are different from the members of phylum Annelida?

Mollusks have a coelom and several organ systems. Most also have a shell, head, foot, and radula, which is a feeding organ. Mollusks are either free-living heterotrophs or parasites. Annelids are segmented invertebrates in Phylum Annelida.

What are the 3 classes of mollusk What do they all share how are they each different?

The three main types of mollusks are gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods. Gastropods, like slugs and snails, can live on land or in the water. Many gastropods have beautiful spiral shells, which make them attractive to seashell hunters.

Do Mollusca have appendages?

ArthropodaMolluscaArthropods have wings to fly with jointed legs usually to their abdominal segments.Molluscs have a muscular foot that helps in locomotion.

What are the four major groups of Mollusca?

  • Gastropods. Gastropods include snails and slugs. They use their foot to crawl. …
  • Bivalves. Bivalves include clams, scallops, oysters, and mussels. …
  • Cephalopods. Cephalopods include the octopus and squid.

What are the three body parts that all molluscs share?

Despite their diversity, mollusks share in common a three-part body plan that includes a head, a foot and a visceral mass.

What are the characters of Arthropoda?

  • They possess an exoskeleton.
  • They have jointed appendages.
  • Their body is segmented.
  • They are bilaterally symmetrical.
  • They possess an open circulatory system.

What are 8 general characteristics of all molluscs?

  • Habitat: They are mostly marine. …
  • Body Form: The body of molluscs is un-segmented with a distinct head, muscular foot and visceral hump. …
  • Symmetry: They usually show bilateral symmetry. …
  • Shell: …
  • Mantle (Pallium): …
  • Body wall: …
  • Body cavity: …
  • Digestive tract:

What are 3 facts about mollusks?

  • Discover Interesting Facts About Mollusks.
  • Second largest phylum of invertebrates.
  • Some have shells, but others do not.
  • Some can live in the water, yet others are terrestrial.
  • Mollusks with shells can produce pearls.
  • Some mollusk shells were used as currency.
  • Some mollusks sting or bite.
  • Mollusks have a mantle.

Which one is representative of phylum Arthropoda?

Phylum Arthropoda is the largest phylum of Kingdom Animalia which includes insects. Examples include Apis, silkworm, Laccifer, silver fish (Lepisma), locust, etc. Puffer fish and flying fish (Exocoetus) are examples of Pisces, while cuttle fish (Sepia) belongs to Mollusca.

Which of the following animal belongs to the phylum Arthropoda?

Many familiar species belong to the phylum Arthropoda—insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, and millipedes on land; crabs, crayfish, shrimp, lobsters, and barnacles in water (Fig. 3.72). Arthropods are considered the most successful animals on Earth.

What are the characteristics of Mollusca that distinguish it from other phyla?

Molluscs have a mantle or mass of soft flesh that covers the soft body and encloses the internal organs. In many species, the mantle produces a hard shell. Not all molluscs produce a shell. Many molluscs have a radula, which, in most species, is a rasp-like scraping organ used in feeding (Fig.

Which of the following a difference between Mollusca and Annelida?

Mollusks are invertebrates such as snails, scallops, and squids. … Different classes of mollusks have different ways of obtaining food. Annelids are segmented worms such as earthworms and leeches. Annelids have a coelom, closed circulatory system, excretory system, and complete digestive system.

What three characteristics do all molluscs share that make them molluscs?

There are only three characteristics shared by all living mollusks: the presence of a mantle (the rear covering of the body) that secretes calcareous (e.g., calcium-containing) structures; the genitals and anus opening into the mantle cavity; and paired nerve cords.

What are 4 characteristics of a mollusk?

Main characteristics of Mollusca : Unsegmented soft body with bilateral symmetry. Presence of an internal or external shell. A toothed tongue (made mostly of chitin) called the radula. A mantle which is a fold in the body wall that lines the shell.

What is Mollusca and Arthropoda?

Mollusks are the soft-bodied invertebrates with one or two shells, whereas arthropods are the invertebrates with segmented bodies, jointed legs and appendages. … Furthermore, mollusks have mantles that secrete calcareous outer or inner shell while arthropods have an exoskeleton made up chitin.

Do phylum Mollusca have Cephalization?

most molluscs have a well developed cephalization. … most others ( think clam ) are grazers, scavengers, or cephalization.

What mollusks belong to Gastropoda?

The Class Gastropoda (in Phylum Mollusca) includes the groups pertaining to snails and slugs. The majority of gastropods have a single, usually spirally, coiled shell into which the body can be withdrawn. The shell of these creatures is often what is recovered in a fossil dig.