Characteristics of Mollusks

snail picture
image credit

Mollusks are soft-bodied animals often covered by hard shells. This group of invertebrates includes a variety of animals; snails, clams, and octopus are the most common. There are more than 85,000 species of mollusks and there is believed to be many more that haven't been identified.

clam picture
image credit

Mollusks are found in a wide variety of habitats, from the bottom of the ocean to high altitudes, they inhabit ponds, rain forests, gardens, tidepools, and deserts. octopus picture
image credit

Although mollusks vary in appearance and habits, they have several common characteristics.

Characteristics of Mollusks

  • Lack skeletons.
  • Have soft bodies.
  • Some are covered by hard shells; others are not.
  • Bodies are divided into three parts: head, foot, and mantle.
  • Head: structure that contains the mouth and sense organs.
  • Foot: muscular structure that extends from the body and is used by movement.
  • Mantle: fleshy tissue that covers and protects the internal organs and also secretes the shell.

What's your favorite mollusk?

..