Mollusca

Taxonavigation Kingdom: Animalia Sub Kingdom: Eumetazoa Super Phylum: Protostomia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Aplacophora - Bivalvia - Caudofoveata - Cephalopoda - Gastropoda - Monoplacophora - Polyplacophora - Scaphopoda

Introduction

Organisms within the phylum Mollusca are typically referred to as Molluscs. The name is derived from the Latin word molluscus which means thin-shelled. The diverse range of organisms are predominantly marine, and contain the Cephalopods (Class Cephalopoda), squids, cuttlefish and octopus which are one of the most intelligent of all invertebrates.

Classification

The Mollusca phylum is divided into eight classes :

• Aplacophora - deep-sea worm-like creatures
• Bivalvia - clams, oysters, scallops, mussels
• Caudofoveata - deep-sea worm-like creatures
• Cephalopoda - squid, octopodes, nautilus, cuttlefish
• Gastropoda - snails with shells and without a shell or with a reduced shell
• Monoplacophora - deep sea, limpet like creatures
• Polyplacophora - chitons
• Scaphopoda - tusk shells

Resources

• Mollusca - Tree of Life
• Mollusca - Wikipedia
• Man and Mollusc