Phylum Mollusca

Soft-bodied organisms
Many protect themselves with a shell produced by an organ called the "mantle"
Shell has 3 layers
     periostracum - outer
     perismatic - middle
     nacre ("mother of pearl") - inner

  Class Polyplacophora - chitons
  Class Bivalvia - clams, oysters, etc.
  Class Gastropoda - snails and slugs
  Class Cephalopoda - octopus and squid
 
 
 

 Lab pictures                           other images

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