MOLLUSCA PHYLUM FACTS
* The mollusca phylum is one of the largest phylums of animals both in number of living species and number of individuals.
*All mollusks have a soft body structure which is protected by a calcium containing shell.
* Structurely, mollusks are highly distinct from other animals but similar to each other. There are three distinct body zones; a head foot, a mantle and a visceral mask. The digestive track goes into the mantle cavity.
*All mollusks have a soft body structure which is protected by a calcium containing shell.
* Structurely, mollusks are highly distinct from other animals but similar to each other. There are three distinct body zones; a head foot, a mantle and a visceral mask. The digestive track goes into the mantle cavity.
Digestive system
* The digestive tract is complete and made with a mouth, anus and complex stomach. The pattern of the stomach goes along with the mollusks diet. Food is taken up by cells lining the digestive glands coming up from the stomach, and then is passed into the blood. Undigested materials are compressed and packaged, then let out through the anus into the mantle cavity and are carried away from the animals in the water currents. This packaging of wastes in solid form prevents fouling of the water passing over the gills.