Mollusca (Molluscs)

Gerhard Haszprunar, Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany

Published online: May 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0001598

Mollusca are bilateral (or secondarily asymmetrical) coelomate Protostomia with spiral cleavage and mostly a (often modified) trochophore-like larva. Most species are provided with spicule or shell (plates), a mantle cavity with gills, a ciliary or muscular gliding sole (foot), a visceral portion with heart and excretory organs and alimentary tract with rasping tongue (radula).

Keywords: diversity; bauplan; evolution; phylogeny

Figure 1. Phylogenetic relationships and schematic organizations of the extant classes of the Mollusca, including a diagram of the hypothetical molluscan stem species. Note that concrete exemplary anatomies are schematized rather than general bauplans. Modified from Salvini-Plawen and Steiner (1996) and Haszprunar (2000).
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 Further Reading
    book Beesley PL, Ross GJB and Wells A (eds) (1998) Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Fauna of Australia, vols 5A and 5B. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing.
    book Harrison FW and Kohn AJ (eds) (1995) Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates, vol 5: Mollusca I: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Prosobranchia, Opisthobranchia. New York: Wiley-Liss.
    book Harrison FW and Kohn AJ (eds) (1997) Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates, vols 6A and 6B: Mollusca II: Pulmonata, Monoplacophora, Bivalvia, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. New York: Wiley-Liss.
    Haszprunar G (2000) Is the Aplacophora monophyletic? A cladisitic point of view. American Malacological Bulletin 15: 115–130.
    book Rosenberg G (1992) The Encyclopedia of Seashells. New York: The Five Mile Press.
    book Salvini-Plawen L and Steiner G (1996) "Synapomorphies and plesiomorphies in higher classification of Mollusca". In: Taylor JD (ed.) Origin and Evolutionary Radiation of the Mollusca, pp. 29–51. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    book Taylor JD (ed.) (1996) Origin and Evolutionary Radiation of the Mollusca. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    book Wilbur KM (ed.) (1983–1988) The Mollusca, vols 1–12. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
    ePath Conch-Net. Conchologists of America, Inc. [http://coa.acnatsci.org/conchnet/] [a good start with many links]

Related Sub-Topics:

Diversity of Life | Fossils and Evolution
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Article Title: Mollusca (Molluscs)
 
How to Cite close
Haszprunar, Gerhard(May 2001) Mollusca (Molluscs). In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0001598]