What are main characteristics of Mollusca?

What are main characteristics of Mollusca?

The three most universal features defining modern molluscs are a mantle with a significant cavity used for breathing and excretion, the presence of a radula (except for bivalves), and the structure of the nervous system.

What are the characteristics of molluscs for kids?

Mollusks are invertebrates, meaning that they do not have a backbone. They have a soft body that holds the heart, liver, digestive system, and other important organs. Most mollusks have a mouth structure called a radula. The radula is sort of like a rough tongue with lots of tiny teeth.

What are three characteristics of mollusks?

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 characteristics of Mollusca distinguish it from other phyla?

Mollusks all have a mantle, a shell secreted by the mantle, a visceral hump, a foot, and a radula. Mollusks are different from other phyla because they have these things, most of which are unique to the phylum Mollusca. Describe the valve of a clam. The valve of a clam is also known as each half of the clam’s shell.

What is unique about Mollusca?

Two unique features of mollusks are the mantle and radula (see Figure above). The mantle is a layer of tissue that lies between the shell and the body. Herbivorous mollusks use the radula to scrape food such as algae off rocks. Predatory mollusks use the radula to drill holes in the shells of their prey.

What are the three most universal features defining modern molluscs?

What are some interesting facts about the phylum Mollusca?

Fun Facts About Mollusks for Kids

• Octopuses have amazing defenses. They can change their coloring to blend in with their surroundings.
• Most squids are small, but the giant squid is huge. It can grow up to 55 feet long.
• Snails and slugs are called gastropods.
• Clams and mussels live in the sea and rivers.

Which is true about Mollusca?

Mollusca have bilateral symmetry and they have CaCO3 (calcareous) shell.

What makes Mollusca unique?

All molluscs also have gills, a mouth and an anus. A feature unique to molluscs is a file-like rasping tool called a radula. This structure allows them to scrape algae and other food off rocks and even to drill through the shell of prey or catch fish.

What are the adaptive features of Mollusca?

The subclass Coleoidea, which includes squid, cuttlefish and octopus, have a number of other unique adaptations among the molluscs. They have highly developed eyes, a complex nervous system, ink glands and skin cells with the ability to change color (known as chromatophores).

Which of the following is true about reproduction in Mollusca?

The simplest species of molluscan reproductive system relies on external fertilization. Some species of mollusc are hermaphrodites that reproduce by internal fertilization. Therefore, option C both sexual and asexual reproduction is the correct answer. So, option C is the correct option.

Is the second largest phylum in animal kingdom?

Complete answer: Mollusca is the second largest Phylum in the Animal Kingdom. Molluscs are both terrestrial and aquatic (marine or freshwater).

What are the most important characteristics of a Mollusca?

10 Important Characteristics of Mollusca are given below: 1 One of the characteristics of mollusca is having a soft body and is protected by a hard shell that is bilaterally symmetrical. 2 Body has more than two cell layers, tissues and organs. 3 Body without cavity. 4 Body possesses a through gut with mouth and anus.

What is the visceral mass of a Mollusca?

The visceral mass, in its compact form, contains the vital organs of the body, taking the form of dorsal humps or dome. These are the special features of Mollusca. Phylum Mollusca is a very diverse group of mainly marine species (85,000 species), with a dramatic range of forms.

What kind of habitat does a marine mollusc live in?

These are mostly marine habitats, and some are freshwater habitats. They are triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical with organ system level of organization. The body of molluscs is unsegmented with a distinct head, muscular foot and visceral hump. The body is represented by a soft visceral mass that encloses all the internal organs.

How many classes of Mollusca are there in the world?

The classification followed in this article is by Morton and Yonge ( 1964) and they classified Mollusca into six classes as they merged class Aplacophora and Poly- placophora into a single class Amphineura. The classification of the Phylum Mollusca are as follows: