Mollusk

Mollusks are soft-bodied invertebrates in the phylum Mollusca. Members of this group are characterized by a soft body wholly or partially covered in a hard carbonate shell. The Mollusca phylum is one of the largest and most diverse groups of organisms in the world (second only to the arthropods). Gastropods are the most numerous mollusks, while the giant squid and colossal squid are the biggest. Mollusks alone make up 23% of all marine species, making it the largest phylum in the marine world. Feeding, reproduction, and preferred habitat vary from one species to another. 

Mollusk — Evolution and History

Fossil evidence dates the origin of mollusks back to the Middle Cambrian, around 500 million years ago. There are controversial theories about how mollusks emerged and why they have become so diverse. One of the reasons for the debate is that it isn’t clear if the ancient fossils found so far were really mollusks or another ancient phylum. Most of the paleontological descriptions of these fossils refer to them as “mollusk-like.”

Gastropods, cephalopods, and bivalves emerged first. Experts think they probably evolved from an ancient clade of organisms known as the Lophotrochozoa. However, their emergence from this root and diversification into modern species is still subject to debate. 

Scientists discovered Helcionellid remains in Early Cambrian rocks. The creature was grouped as a mollusk because of its snail-like hard shell and is believed to be the ancestor of shelled mollusks. 

Although Fordilla and Pojetaia were classified as early bivalves, the more modern variants emerged around 488 to 443 million years ago (Ordovician Period). Rudists, a group of bivalve mollusks, were abundant during the Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago). But they disappeared after the period’s major extinction event. 

Unlike modern octopuses and squids, early cephalopod fossils had external shells and crawled on the seafloor. However, most of them did not make it past the Cretaceous Period. 

Mollusk — Scientific Classification

Mollusks (also written as molluscs) are soft-bodied organisms that belong to the phylum Mollusca. This is the second-largest phylum of organisms on Earth. The name Mollusca is of Latin origin and translates as “soft.” The Mollusca phylum is classified under the Lophotrochozoa superphylum. 

The Mollusca phylum is one of the most diverse clades of organisms in the animal kingdom. There are an estimated 85,000 to 100,000 living species in this phylum, and they all differ in terms of their body structure and ecology. 

The phylum has about seven living classes, which include: 

• Aplacophora — Worm-like mollusks 
• Bivalvia — Class of oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops
• Cephalopoda — Class of octopuses, cuttlefish, nautiluses, squid, and ammonites
• Gastropoda — Class of snails, slugs, limpets, conch, sea hares, and sea butterflies
• Monoplacophora — Mollusks with cap-like shells
• Polyplacophora — Class of chitons
• Scaphopoda — Mollusks with tusk shells

Mollusk — Appearance and Behavior

As expected of such a large and diverse family of organisms, mollusks are anatomically quite diverse. Appearance varies widely from one class of mollusk to the other. Generally, mollusks are soft-bodied, unsegmented, and bilaterally symmetrical. Many classes have a single, limpet-shaped calcareous shell covering the top of their body. However, a few classes are shell-less. For the shelled varieties, the shape and structure of the shell vary as well. 

In all mollusks, the dorsal part of their body wall forms a mantle. This part of their body secretes calcareous shells, plates, or spicules. It also forms a mantle cavity, which contains the internal organs of the organism. The cavity opens outwards via the mouth, anus, and genitals. Mollusks also have two main nerve cords on their body to detect vibration and touch. Other body features seen in most mollusks, in one form or another, include: 

• Radula (absent in the bivalves) 
• A broad, muscular foot (modified into arms in the cephalopods)
• Visceral mass (concentration of internal organs) 
• A complex excretory kidney-like structure called the metanephridia (absent in Aplacophora)

Most classes of mollusks have at least one shell. Their shells come in a variety of colors, including red, blue, purple, pink, and yellow. They may have spotted or striped designs as well. In bivalves such as oysters and clams, the shell occurs as two halves that close up to protect the animal. Octopuses and squids have no shells at all. 

Many bivalves stay attached to rock surfaces. However, some of them have a muscular foot for locomotion. Octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish move by forcing out water from a funnel-like structure on their body.

Mollusk — Size and Behavior

Mollusk species come in different sizes. The smallest known mollusk is a micro mollusk (Acmella nana) discovered in Borneo, which is only about 0.028 inches (0.7 millimeters). Squids are the largest mollusks, with the giant squid growing to lengths of up to 43 feet, and the colossal squid can be as big as 23 feet with a weight of over 1,100 pounds.  

Mollusks are nocturnal animals, mostly active at dusk and dawn. Some (like snails) hide away in their shells from predators during the day or when disturbed. Similarly, octopuses remain hidden in the deeper parts of the ocean. Since they lack protective shells, some mollusks, like octopuses and squids, have other defensive mechanisms. Many species can camouflage themselves to blend in with their environment. They also distract predators by releasing an ink-like liquid.  

Mollusk — Habitat

Mollusks are found worldwide and are adapted to all habitats except the air. Most species are marine. In fact, 23% of marine organisms are mollusks. Many of them are found in freshwater and terrestrial habitats as well. Generally, terrestrial mollusks prefer cool and moist habitats. However, a few can survive in cold and dry regions. 

Marine and freshwater species are found on muddy and sandy substrates. Many species are free-swimming, but a few stay attached to rock surfaces. They have a worldwide distribution, but some groups are more common in certain regions of the world. The distribution of many molluscan groups is directly linked to their food source and position in the food chain. 

Mollusk — Predators and Threats

Mollusks are an important part of the food chain, both as consumers and as food for other animal species in their ecosystem. Feeding habits and niche vary from one class of mollusk to another. 

What Do Mollusks Eat?

The majority of modern mollusks are either herbivores or filter feeders. Some molluscan grazers feed on microscopic algae, while others feed on bigger plants like kelp. Most bivalves are filter feeders. They have structures that allow them to pass water over their gills and filter in suspended food particles. Cephalopods like squids and octopuses are carnivores. They prey actively on crustaceans, fish, bivalves, and jellyfish. Smaller cephalopods make up their diet as well.  

What Eats the Mollusks?

Most gastropods (snails and slugs) are eaten by terrestrial predators. Some of their major predators include mice, squirrels, birds, turtles, salamanders, toads, and mammals. Fish, birds, frogs, crayfish, and some mammals eat marine mollusks. Bigger fish and other large aquatic animals eat cephalopods and other large mollusks, too. 

Humans are major threats to mollusks. They have formed a great part of the human diet for several thousand years. Apart from eating them as food, the shells and pearls produced by mollusks serve important ornamental purposes. Bivalves produce valuable pearls used for jewelry and other luxury items. Mollusk shells were also popularly used as commodity money and for social status display in some preindustrial societies.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

Mollusks reproduce sexually. Depending on the species, fertilization may be external or internal. There are even hermaphroditic species, such as snails, which have both male and female gametes. All female mollusks produce eggs. While some give live birth, others lay their eggs externally. The eggs may hatch into a smaller replica of their parents or a worm-like larva at first. 

The lifespan of mollusks varies widely: most gastropods live for about a year, many cephalopods complete their life cycle within one to three years, while some bivalves can live for several decades or even over 100 years.  

Population

Mollusks are very abundant. There are about 85,000 living species in this phylum alone. However, the population of many species is currently declining. This decline is a result of over-exploitation, pollution, and habitat modification. Climate change is also contributing to the decline of the mollusks. Even though many mollusks have a thriving population, the population of some freshwater species is currently under threat.