Mollusc
mollusc
{American spelling: ‘mollusk’}
a name given to a large group (phylum) of water/land animals
a kind of animal – mostly water living (a few species live on land) – soft body without back-bone or other bones in the body – ‘cold-blooded’ (the temperature of the ‘cold-blooded’ animals change according to the weather or surroundings; the present more advanced name for such animals is ‘ectotherms’ and ‘ectothermic’); some species are with one shell, a hard cover, on the back of the body or a cone-like shell for the entire body to hide in; some are with two shells joined with a hinge, called ‘bivalves’, which open and close (these shells are also called ‘seashells); and yet some are without outer shell cover (for most of these species the shell cover is internal); body in three parts: head, central mass in which the most important organs are located, and a foot-like organ for movement; size, shape, weight and habitat vary very widely, from the smallest (a snail) 0.02 inches to the largest (a clam) 4 feet long and 330 Kg. in weight; feeds on (eats) different things: some big species eat fish and other sea animals, and some small species eat plankton (tiny plant matter in the water); and some eat both; some species live for a few months and some live for 5-6 years and yet some others live for 10-17 years; about 110,000 species found all over the world
Examples of single shell “univalve” molluscs: snail, cone, whelk, abalone, limpet
Examples of double shell “bivalve” molluscs: clam, scallop, oyster, mussel
Examples of chamber shell molluscs: nautilus
Shell-less molluscs: cuttlefish, squid, octopus, sea slug, (‘Cuttlefish’, ‘squid’ and ‘octopus’ have arm-like organs, called ‘tentacles’ to catch food)
Special Features:
Molluscs have been an important source of food for people, and other sea animals, including fish.
The most popular sea-food molluscs are ‘scallops’, ‘oysters’, ‘clam’ and ‘escargot’.
The most interesting feature of the molluscs is that they use the same body organ for different purposes: heart and kidneys used not only in circulatory systems but also in reproductive system (= in the process of laying eggs); gills for breathing and laying eggs!
Some cone seashells have enough venom (= poison) in them to kill a person!
The venom of some molluscs is used in medical research!!
Some people keep colourful molluscs as pets!
The shells were used as money in the ancient world (are still used in some remote parts of the world); they have been used for decoration in the form of necklaces and in head-dresses and on the handles of hand tools for hundreds of years. The most popularmoney seashells were ‘cowrie’.
The oyster pearls and mother of pearls are very valuable, used in making expensive ornaments; and the sea silk (= the substance produced by the bivalves) is made into fine fabric used in making garments.
The conch was used as a musical instrument and also as a horn blown to announce the beginning of a religious ceremony or even a battle. In Hindu religion the conch is held in great respect: the Supreme God carries it in one of his four hands!!
Even in modern times the conches are used as musical instruments, and as bugles at traditional events, or just for fun!
Mr. Kumar, an English language teacher, having taught in many countries around the world including Ethiopia and Oman shares this English Language Reference website using material that he has written and compiled during the past 20 years.
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