Zoology 250

Clade for MOLLUSCA


Tree and most traits from (Nielson 1994 p. 111), and Brusca & Brusca (1990 p. 762).


       ======2================== Aplacophora (shell-less, worm-like molluscs)
       |
<<=1===|    ====4=============== Polyplacophora (chitons)
       |    |
       ==3==|   ====6=========== Monoplacophora (primitive limpet-like molluscs)
            |   |
            =5==|         ===9== Gastropoda (snails, slugs, etc.)
                |    ==8==|
                |    |    ==10== Cephalopoda (nautiloids, cuttlefish, squids, octopus)
                ==7==|
 5="CONCHIFERA"      |    ==12== Bivalvia (mussels, clams, scallops, etc.)
                     ==11=|
                          ==13== Scaphopoda (tusk shells)

Traits supporting each clade (**possibly plesiomorphic: a primitive state, not unique to the clade):

1: a) muscular, creeping ciliated foot**, b) mantle with calcareous spicules produced by single cells, c) posterolateral mantle cavity with multiple bipectinate gills (ctenidia), d) radula, e) larval/adult body with traces of eight segments, f) trochophore larvae**, g) coelom via schizocoely**, h) 'open' circulatory system (hemocoel) with pumping heart, i) circumpharyngeal nerve-ring (brain) with ladder-like ventrolateral nerves**
2: a) small, elongate, worm-like body, b) reduction/loss of foot & head, c) reduced # ctenidia (two or fewer)
3: a) large muscular foot, b) one or more dorsal, solid shell plates, c) multiple pedal 'retractor' muscles, d) mobile radular membrane & odontophore
4: a) 8 unique shell plates (perforated by aesthetes), b) mantle girdle, c) calcareous spicules from single cells**
5=CONCHIFERA: a) 1 shell plate, b) 3-layered shell (periostracum, prismatic & nacreous calcareous layers), c) crystalline style
6: a) 8 pair pedal retractor muscles**, b) monopectinate ctenidia (5-6 pr.)
7: a) 2 pair pedal retractor muscles, b) 1 or 2 pr. ctenidia, c) veliger larva (absent in Cephalopoda)
8: a) dorsoventrally expanded body, b) reduced mantle cavity surrounding anus (primitively)
9: a) torsion, b) single pedal retractor muscle, c) operculum attached to foot, d) 1 pr. ctenidia**
10: a) foot modified as siphon, b) shell with gas-filled chambers & siphuncle, c) 1 pair pedal retractor muscles, d) ink gland, e) beak-like jaws, f) large, circumoral tentacles/arms, g) 'closed' circulatory system (vessels lined by epithelium), h) image-forming eyes & large brain
11: a) burrowing foot, b) paired, lateral larval shell plates, c) 1 pr. ctenidia**
12: a) radula lost, b) head lost, c) enlarged mantle cavity & ctenidia, d) mantle edge fused to shell, e) byssal gland
13: a) larval shell plates fuse into tubular adult shell, b) ctenidia lost, c) captacula

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Copyright © 1999 by A. Richard Palmer. All rights reserved.
(revised Jan. 9, 1999)