PHYLUM MOLLUSCA
WHAT IS A MOLLUSK? Why are animals that look and act so different grouped in the same phylum? It is because they share developmental patterns.
Characteristics of Mollusk 1. mantle 2. mantle cavity 3. shell 4. true coelom 5. head, muscular foot, visceral cavity 6. systems: circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory, reproductive, and nerve impulses
Mollusks are well defined as soft bodied animals that either have an external or internal shell. Their name comes from the Latin word molluscus meaning soft.
Most mollusks are composed of 4 basic parts: foot - flat surface adapted for locomotion and usually contains the mouth and other feeding structures mantle - covers most of the body and secretes the shell shell - composed of calcium carbonate visceral mass - contains the internal organ
Unique features of most mollusks include Mantle ctenidia - special gill which are also used for filter feeding radula - rasping tongue-like structure used for scraping
the blood is not always contained in vessels. there are no veins. INTERNAL TRANSPORT OPEN CIRCULATORY SYSTEM the blood is not always contained in vessels. there are no veins.
What is a closed circulatory system?
Excretion - All animals must remove waste products. An open circulatory system will work well for slow moving animals. Why is an open circulatory system not adequate for fast-moving animal