univalves
One-piece shell creatures
Univalves are mollusks with a single shell, such as snails, slugs, and limpets—distinguished from bivalves like clams and oysters, which have two hinged shells.
The term appears in marine biology and shellfish identification: The tide pool was full of univalves clinging to the rocks.
Curve winding around center
- conicalTapering to a point
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
- apertureAdjustable optical inlet
- apexUppermost point or culmination
spire · columella · operculum · nacre · mother-of-pearl · shell collecting · beachcombing · specimen
Edible land snails
- whelksPredatory sea snails
- periwinklesSmall marine gastropods
- abaloneNacreous marine gastropod
- conchSpiral-shelled marine gastropod
sea snails · delicacy · garlic butter · steamed · harvesting · coastal cuisine · turbo · limpets
Shelled terrestrial gastropods
- limpetsRock-gripping sea snails
- whelksPredatory sea snails
- periwinklesSmall marine gastropods
- abalonesEdible marine gastropods
conchs · cowries · sea snails · gastropods · slugs · murex · winkles · cone shells
Soft invertebrate phylum
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
- phylumMajor classification rank
marine biology · zoology · invertebrate · cephalopods · evolutionary · morphology · identification · field guide
spiral
Curve winding around center
apex · spire · columella · operculum · nacre · mother-of-pearl · shell collecting · beachcombing · specimen · coiled
escargot
Edible land snails
- whelksPredatory sea snails
- periwinklesSmall marine gastropods
- abaloneNacreous marine gastropod
conch · sea snails · delicacy · garlic butter · steamed · harvesting · coastal cuisine · turbo · limpets · grilled
snails
Shelled terrestrial gastropods
- limpetsRock-gripping sea snails
- whelksPredatory sea snails
- periwinklesSmall marine gastropods
abalones · conchs · cowries · sea snails · gastropods · slugs · murex · winkles · cone shells · tritons
Mollusca
Soft invertebrate phylum
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
phylum · marine biology · zoology · invertebrate · cephalopods · evolutionary · morphology · identification · field guide · specimen