Molluscs

Fact file

Molluscs Proper name: Phylum Mollusca (moll-us-cah)
Examples: Slugs, snails, cockles, mussels, octopus, squid

Numbers of species: About 98,000
Where they are found: In the oceans, in freshwater and on land

Description: Molluscs have soft bodies, and many have some type of shell. Snails have coiled shells, and cockles and mussels have a two-part shell - they are called bivalves. Some molluscs, like the octopus, do not have a shell.

Need to know: The octopus is supposed to be the most intelligent of all the invertebrates - it has very fast reactions, a large brain, and well developed eyes.

Find out more about molluscs
Find out more about fossil molluscs

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