Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
American Thorny Oyster
Hermann, 1781
Spondylus americanus
Class:
Bivalvia
Order:
Pectinida
Family:
Spondylidae
Misc. Facts
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Spondylus americanus Hermann, 1781. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=420772 on 2021-07-20
Mikkelsen, P. M., & Bieler, R. (28). Seashells of southern Florida: Living marine mollusks of the Florida keys and Adjacent REGIONS, bivalves. Princeton: Princeton University Press.