molluscs
Snails, clams, octopuses
Molluscs are invertebrate animals with soft bodies, typically protected by a shell.
The group includes snails, clams, oysters, mussels, octopuses, and squid.
Most are aquatic, though some snails live on land.
The American spelling is mollusk; mollusc is British.
The tide pools were full of molluscs clinging to the rocks.
Sand-dwelling hinged shellfish
- oysterPearl-bearing edible mollusk
- musselEdible two-shelled mollusk
- scallopFan-shaped edible shellfish
- cockleSmall ribbed bivalve
geoduck · razor clam · quahog · pearl · nacre · mother-of-pearl · hinged · filter-feeding
Eight-limbed sea mollusk
- squidTen-armed marine mollusk
- cuttlefishColor-changing cephalopod with internal shell
- nautilusChambered marine mollusk
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
arms · suckers · ink · beak · camouflage · chromatophores · jet propulsion · siphon
Shelled, slow-moving mollusk
- slugNaked terrestrial mollusk
- limpetRock-gripping marine snail
- abaloneNacreous marine gastropod
- conchSpiral-shelled marine gastropod
whelk · periwinkle · nudibranch · escargot · spiral · coiled · radula · foot
Covering or wrap
- footLeg's lowest part
- radulaMollusk scraping organ
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- siphonLiquid transfer tube
ganglia · soft-bodied · muscular · secretion · mucus · reproduction · hermaphrodite · larvae
Edible land snails
- calamariFried squid dish
- oysters RockefellerBaked shellfish with herb topping
- clam chowderCreamy mollusk soup
- takoyakiJapanese fried octopus dumplings
ceviche · sashimi · shucking · steaming · grilling · aphrodisiac · delicacy · sustainable
Major classification rank
- MolluscaSoft invertebrate phylum
- classGrouping by shared traits
- chitonDraped Hellenic attire
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
species · evolution · phylogeny · fossil · Cambrian · biodiversity · classification · specimen
External skeletal structure
- calcium carbonateMineral in shells and marble
- nacreIridescent shell coating
- mother-of-pearlIridescent inner shell coating
- spiralCurve winding around center
whorl · aperture · valve · hinge · growth rings · iridescent · protective · carapace
clam
Sand-dwelling hinged shellfish
- oysterPearl-bearing edible mollusk
- musselEdible two-shelled mollusk
- scallopFan-shaped edible shellfish
cockle · geoduck · razor clam · quahog · pearl · nacre · mother-of-pearl · hinged · filter-feeding · adductor
octopus
Eight-limbed sea mollusk
- squidTen-armed marine mollusk
- cuttlefishColor-changing cephalopod with internal shell
- nautilusChambered marine mollusk
tentacles · arms · suckers · ink · beak · camouflage · chromatophores · jet propulsion · siphon · intelligence
snail
Shelled, slow-moving mollusk
conch · whelk · periwinkle · nudibranch · escargot · spiral · coiled · radula · foot · crawling
mantle
Covering or wrap
siphon · ganglia · soft-bodied · muscular · secretion · mucus · reproduction · hermaphrodite · larvae
escargot
Edible land snails
- calamariFried squid dish
- oysters RockefellerBaked shellfish with herb topping
- clam chowderCreamy mollusk soup
takoyaki · ceviche · sashimi · shucking · steaming · grilling · aphrodisiac · delicacy · sustainable · aquaculture
phylum
Major classification rank
invertebrate · species · evolution · phylogeny · fossil · Cambrian · biodiversity · classification · specimen
exoskeleton
External skeletal structure
- calcium carbonateMineral in shells and marble
- nacreIridescent shell coating
- mother-of-pearlIridescent inner shell coating
spiral · whorl · aperture · valve · hinge · growth rings · iridescent · protective · carapace · collecting
molluscscrustaceans
Exoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
arthropods · insects · arachnids · echinoderms · annelids
- mollusk shellsInvertebrate exoskeletons from sea