Knowra Gastropod shell Gastropod shell A hard external structure secreted by the mantle of many gastropods, usually as one continuous piece. It protects the animal and provides attachment for muscles.
Mantle (mollusc) : A tissue layer in molluscs that covers the visceral mass and secretes shell material in shelled species. Its edge deposits new shell at the opening, while its surface forms inner layers.
Gastropoda : A large class of molluscs that includes snails, slugs, limpets, and sea hares. Gastropod shells are one anatomical feature within this diverse mollusc class.
Conchology : The study and collection of mollusc shells, including their form, classification, and variation. Shell shape and sculpture provide many of the characters used to identify gastropods.
Bivalve shell : A shell made of two hinged valves in molluscs such as clams, mussels, and oysters. Its paired valves differ from the usually single continuous piece of a gastropod shell.
Nacre : An iridescent composite of aragonite tablets and organic material lining some mollusc shells. This inner layer thickens the shell and can coat irritants that enter the mantle cavity.
Mollusca : A phylum of invertebrates that includes snails, clams, cephalopods, and chitons. The gastropod shell is one form of shell among molluscs.
Paleontology : The study of ancient life through fossils and other geological evidence. Fossil gastropod shells preserve a substantial record of past mollusc diversity.
Cephalopod shell : A shell produced by a cephalopod, either external, internal, reduced, or absent depending on the group. Cephalopod shell forms range from an external coil to an internal support or no shell.
Periostracum : The outermost, often protein-rich layer of many mollusc shells. It covers the mineral shell and can reduce chemical erosion before wearing away.
Aperture (mollusc shell) : The opening through which a shelled mollusc extends parts of its body. Its shape and position define the shell's growing margin and affect how the animal emerges.
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