MOLLUSCOIDEA Meaning and
Definition
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Molluscoidea is a taxonomic term used to refer to a subphylum of invertebrate animals belonging to the phylum Chordata. This subphylum includes a diverse group of marine organisms commonly known as 'mollusks', which exhibit a variety of body plans and biological features.
Molluscoidea organisms are characterized by their soft bodies, which are typically covered by a hard outer shell made of calcium carbonate. The shell provides protection and support to the organisms and varies greatly in shape and structure, depending on the specific species. Molluscoidea encompasses a wide range of animals, from small and simple organisms like bryozoans to more complex and diverse groups like brachiopods.
Members of Molluscoidea have bilateral symmetry and possess a complete digestive system with a mouth, anus, and specialized organs for digestion. They also have a unique muscular structure called a 'foot' that is used for locomotion and attachment.
The subphylum Molluscoidea plays an essential role in marine ecosystems as they are filter feeders, consuming microscopic organisms and detritus from the water. They can be found in various marine habitats, including shallow coastal waters, deep-sea environments, and even freshwater ecosystems.
Overall, Molluscoidea represents a significant group of animals within the phylum Chordata, displaying a remarkable diversity in their physiology, anatomy, and ecological roles. They have adapted to various niches and play critical roles in marine food webs, making them ecologically and scientifically valuable.
Common Misspellings for MOLLUSCOIDEA
- molluscoida
- nolluscoidea
- kolluscoidea
- jolluscoidea
- milluscoidea
- mklluscoidea
- mllluscoidea
- mplluscoidea
- m0lluscoidea
- m9lluscoidea
- mokluscoidea
- mopluscoidea
- mooluscoidea
- molkuscoidea
- molpuscoidea
- molouscoidea
- mollyscoidea
- mollhscoidea
- molljscoidea
- molliscoidea
Etymology of MOLLUSCOIDEA
The word "Molluscoidea" comes from the combination of two Greek words: "mollus" meaning "soft" or "soft-bodied" and "oida" meaning "like" or "resembling". The term was coined by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier in 1798 to describe a group of marine animals that have a soft and gelatinous body, similar to mollusks. Molluscoidea is a taxonomic group that includes animals such as sea squirts, salps, and colonial marine animals known as bryozoans, which have a superficial resemblance to mollusks but are not closely related to them.
