Glossary

mollusc

Any member of the invertebrate phylum Mollusca.

Used in 27 species profiles

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Related terms

bivalve
A mollusc belonging to the class Bivalvia which includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, etc.. Members are characterised by possessing a shell comprising two hinged valves.
cephalopod
Any marine mollusc of the class Cephalopoda which includes octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus. Characterised by possession of a large head and eyes, prehensile tentacles, and, in most species, a specialised sac containing a dark, inky fluid used in defensive behaviour.
coral reef
Erosion-resistant aquatic structure formed from living corals, their rock-like skeletal secretions and calcium carbonate deposits from other organisms such as calcareous algae, molluscs, and protozoans.
coral sand
Sand originating from marine environments via bioerosion of the calcareous skeletal structures possessed by some organisms. Coral is not the chief constituent, however, with the majority of material deriving from foraminifera, calcareous algae, molluscs, and crustaceans.
decapod
Any member of the crustacean order Decapoda, comprising species possessing 5 pairs of jointed, thorassic limbs such as crabs, crayfish, lobsters and shrimp. Also used historically in reference to molluscs of the Cephalopod superorder Decapodiformes, members of which have 8 short limbs plus 2 longer tentacles and include cuttlefish and squid.
durophagous
Feeding on hard-shelled or exoskeleton-bearing organisms such as molluscs.
exoskeleton
External skeleton, often forming a hard, shell-like outer covering typical in insects, crustaceans and some molluscs. Usually chitinous but may also be composed primarily of calcium carbonate or silica.
gastropod
Any member of the mollusc class Gastropoda.
Gastropoda
Class of molluscs of which the majority of members possess a flattened, muscular foot for locomotion and a head bearing specialised sensory tentacles, with some also having a univalve, coiled shell. Includes all snails, whelks, limpets, conches, and slugs.
mantle
Protective layer of epidermis in molluscs from which the shell is secreted in many species.
Mollusca
Large, highly diverse invertebrate phylum. Members are difficult to define but generally possess a soft, unsegmented body, and often a shell or shell-like structure secreted by a mantle. Includes all bivalves, cephalopods, and gastropods.
phylum
Taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class.

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