Molluscs: Phylum Mollusca

There are about 93,000 molluscs (individuals in the phylum Mollusca) that exist today.  They are a hugely diverse group, with representatives that live in both marine and freshwater as well as all sorts of terrestrial biomes. This group has about 10 classes, of which only 8 have living representatives.  These 8 extant groups are: 

• Aplacophora
• Bivalvia (Clams, Oysters)
• Cephalopoda (octopus and squid)
• Gastropoda (snails, slugs)
• Monoplacophora
• Polyplacophora
• Scaphopoda