MOLLUSCS

The molluscs (Americans spell it as ‘mollusks’) constitute one of the largest phyla of
animals, with close to 112,000 species to be found worldwide. The scientific study of
molluscs is known as malacology . The molluscs first appeared during the Cambrian
period of the evolutionary calendar.The world mollusca has its root in the Latin
word molluscus meaning ‘thin shelled’ which in turn is derived from the root Latin
word mollis meaning ‘soft’.

This is a description of their main characteristic -all molluscs ave a soft body, which (
with the exceptions of species from certain families) is generally protected by an
external, calcium-containing shell. In the octopuses and sea-slugs the shells is
completely absent where as in squids it is located internally.

Main characteristics of Mollusca :

A ll modern mollusks have the same fundamental body plan. There are three distinct
body zones: a head-foot, a visceral mass and a mantle. Some common features are :

1. Unsegmented soft body with bilateral symmetry

2. Presence of an internal or external shell
3. A toothed tongue (made mostly of chitin) called the radula
4. A mantle which is a fold in the body wall that lines the shell
5. Muscular foot (and/or tentacles in some).
6. Possession of a fluid-filled cavity called coelom

Classification for molluscs

GASTROPODA (single shelled cowries, cones etc)

BIVALVIA ( two shelled like clams, mussels etc)

APLACOPHORA (solenogasters)

MONOPLACOPHORA (segmented limpets)

POLYPLACOPHORA ( or Amphineura as it was earlier called- Chitons)

SCAPHOPODA (tusk shells)

CEPHALOPODA (nautilus, squids, Cuttelfish, octopus etc)

The classes are further subdivided into sub-classes, order, family and finally the
genus and species. At each level detailed characteristics of the organisms are added
in order to find its exact identification. At present I am not giving details of the sub-
class or order but am restricting myself to a brief description of each class.

When you open the images of the shells, there would be a brief description of each of
them along with the classification. In time to come this page will be updated with a
more detailed classification.
GASTROPODA :

This word is a combination of two Greek words : ‘Gastir which means ‘stomach’ and podi
which means ‘foot’. So Gastropods can be called ‘stomach-footed’ molluscs!! Funny isn’t
it? Try acting out a gastropod!!! As the name suggests these have a well developed
muscular foot, sometimes quite large that is used for crawling. There is a head with well
developed eyes and tentacles. ( observe a land snail and you can see the tentacles
coming out and going in). Except the slugs all gastropods produce an outer shell which is
spirally wound. A kind of spiral coiling is seen as the animal grows. The immature
organism is bilaterally symmetrical but acquires an asymmetrical shape as it matures
into an adult. The coiling of the visceral mass around the central axis occurs through a
process called torsion. This class with 17 orders and many families contain animals
whose shell shape and structure also help to identify them. A Cone shell is easily
distinguished from a top shell or a cowry. Refer to the illustration for parts of this shell.
They live on land, freshwater and marine environment.

BIVALVIA :

Bi means ‘two’ and as the name suggests these molluscs possess tow shells. They are
also known as Pelecypoda meaning ‘hatchet-footed’. They are bilaterally symmetrical
and show no torsion. Head is greatly reduced, no tentacles but have a foot that can often
be seen sticking out of the valves. The two valves are joined by hinges and other
structures that help the valves to open and close. Refer to illustration for parts of the
shell. They are completely aquatic. Eg. Oysters, clams etc.

APLACOPHORA :

‘Without plates’ is what this term means. Aplacophorans are small, cylindrical, worm-like
creatures that were till 1987 classified under Phylum Echinodermata as Holothurians.
These benthic (deep water), exclusively marine molluscs do not have shells but have
small calcareous spicules embedded in their mantle. There is no head or specialized
excretory organ(nephridia). The foot and mantle cavity are reduced. Sea cucumber is the
most familiar example of this class.

MONOPLACOPHORA:

The name means ‘with one plate’ (a single shell). Thought to be extinct, there was a
single species discovered in 1952 at Costa Rica and subsequently described in
1957.Along with Neopilina sp . there are about tow dozen species found. They are small
and have a single cap like shells that make them look like limpets and hence the
common name segmented limpets. Head is reduced with no tentacles or eyes; they have
a rounded foot.Many of the organs like the gills, nephridia etc are paired. Another
common name to describe them is ‘gastroverm’

POLYPLACOPHORA

‘Bearing many plates’ is the meaning of the term Polyplacophora. The name comes from
the characteristic presence of 8plates called valves that are overlapping and attached to
a part of the mantle called girdle. These plates are distributed around and underneath
the edges. The mouth and the anus are present at the opposite ends of a bilaterally
symmetrical body. Eyes and tentacles are absent. Example – Chitons
SCAPHOPODA

Scaphopoda means ‘boat-footed’. This class includes marine molluscs that usually
remain buried in snad. The worm-like animal is found within tusk shaped shells that are
open at both ends. Thus they are commonly referred to as tusk shells. The animals do
not have eyes, tentacles or gills.

CEPHALOPODA

The name means ‘head-footed’, these are exclusively marine molluscs that have a
prominent and large head, eyes and tentacles. The eyes of these molluscs are
fascinating to study as also some of the mechanisms of camouflage developed by the
cuttlefishes. The foot has undergone modification and is seen as a set of arms around
the mouth. Shell is either internal or absent, the only exception being species of sub-
class Nautiloidea eg Nautilus.

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Olive oil is a fat obtained from the fruit of the Olea europaea (olive tree), a traditional tree
crop of the Mediterranean region. Whole olives are pressed to produce this distinctive oil.

The oil is used in cosmetics, medicine, cooking, and soaps, and was also used as a fuel
for traditional lamps. Olive oil originally came from the Mediterranean, but today it is used
worldwide.

In the diet, olives can be eaten whole or chopped and added to pizzas and other dishes.

The oil can be used as a dip for bread, for frying, or as a salad dressing. Some people
even consume it by the small glassful for medicinal purposes.

Benefits
Over the last 50 years, many studies have looked at the health benefits of olive oil.

Olive oil and the cardiovascular system

Frying with olive oil and heart disease risk

Olive oil may help prevent stroke

Depression risk and olive oil

Olive oil may reduce breast cancer risk

Olive oil helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels

Extra virgin olive oil and Alzheimer's disease

Olive oil may help protect from ulcerative colitis