PHYLUM- MOLLUSCA

The soft body of the animal is unsegmented. They are covered by external calcareous (CaCO 3) shell
layer . They are mainly marine. Few are fresh water and land living forms. They are vagrant benthos. They
make burrows in sand or mud. Their life range is from Cambrian to Recent.
CLASSIFICATION:
The phylum mollusca is divided into five classes.
Class- Amphineura:
It has sparse fossil records. It ranges from Cambrian to Recent.
Class- Scaphopoda:
Fossils are rare. Age is Ordovician to Recent.
Class- Pelecypoda or Lamellibranchia:
It includes oyster, clams, mussels, scallops, ancient fossils. Its age is from lower Ordovician to Recent.
It has good fossil records.
Class- Gasteropoda:
Its age is from Cambrian to Recent. It includes snails, whelks, cowri and fossil Gasteropod.
Class- Cephalopoda:
It includes fossils, Nautiloids, Ammonoids and Coeloids. Its age is from Cambrian to Recent.

CLASS PELECYPODA
Pelecypoda is one of the important classes of the phylum mollusca. It is otherwise called as
Lamellibranchia. The name pelecypoda is given due to the resemblance of foot to the blade of an axe. The name
Lamellibranchia is given due to the resemblance of leaf like nature of the gills. The soft body of the animal
consists of following parts namely
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The main body mass

Gills
Foot
Mantle
Incurrent and Excurrent canals.

The main body mass consist of digestive system. Gills are the respiratory organ. Foot is the locomotive organ.
Mantle secretes shell material. The incurrent and excurrent canals are used to intake food and water and expel
the waste material or excreta respectively.
GENERAL SHELL MORPHOLOGY:
Pelecypods are bivalved and bilaterally symmetrical animal. They are called right and left valve,
because they are attached to the right and left side of the animal. The earliest part of each valve is called the

pointed beak. The round and elevated part adjacent to beak is called umbo. The position of the umbo may be
varied.

Prosogyral umbo ;
umbo.Eg: Meretrix, Venus.

When the umbo is pointing away from the observer, it is called as prosogyral

Orthogyral umbo:
When the umbo is at the centre, it is termed as orthogyral umbo. Eg: Spondylus, Pecten.
Opisthogyral umbo:
When the umbo is pointing towards the observer, it is called as opisthogyral umbo. Eg: Ostrea,
Gryphaea, Trigonia.
The obliquity or inclination of shell is referred with the mid umbonal line. The mid umbonal line is a
line that drawn at the centre of the umbo.
ORIENTATION OF SHELL:
Height of the shell is measured from the plane of symmetry from umbo to the ventral margin. Length is
measured between the anterior and posterior margin in the plane of symmetry.
Thickness of the valve is measured between the internal margins of each valve perpendicular to the plane
of symmetry. The front portion is called anterior and the back position is called posterior. The top margin is
called dorsal and the bottom margin is called ventral.The margin of the valve may be dentated or crenulated or
striated or with smooth outline or irregular outline. eg Arca- Crenulated or dentated margin, Spondylusstriated margin,Venus-Smooth margin,Ostraea-irregular outline margin .
.

ORNAMENTATION:
The external surface of the shell may be smooth or may be ornamented with radially or concentric growth
lines or with ribs, striations or tubercles or spines
SHELL LAYER:
The shell layer consists of three layers namely
Outer Periostracum: It is made
up of conchiolin material.
Middle Ostracum: It consists of inter growth of conchiolin and
calcareous prism. Lower Ostracum or Hypostracum: It consist of alternate layers of conchiolin and
calcareous prism.
Hinge line is on the dorsal margin of the valve on which teeth, sockets and other closely related
structures are present. The hinge line may be straight or curved.
The teeth, socket and other closely related structures are collectively termed as Dentition. The shells
lacking dentition is called as Edentulus. The triangular area which lies between umbo and the hinge is called
Cardinal area.
The cardinal area possesses v shaped grooves called as chevron grooves. An anterior heart shaped area
above the umbo is called Lunule and a posterior elongated depression just below the umbo is called Escutcheon.

Ligament is an elastic band or rod or hemicylinder shaped structure from one valve to the other valve. Eg:
Ostrea, Spondylus,Pecten. The ligament may be single layer or many layers.
.
TYPES OF DENTITION:
The teeth, socket and other closely related structures are collectively termed as dentition. There are
different types of dentition. They are
Taxodonta:
Teeth and socket are numerous, more or less similar teeth. They are arranged in a straight or curved row.
Eg: Arca (straight row), Glycymeris, Nicula (curved row).
Dysodonta:
Teeth are simple. They are radiating from the umbo. Eg: Mytilus.
Isodont or Pachydont:
There are two teeth and socket, equal in size. Eg: Spondylus, Pecten.

Schizodont:
There are few teeth, thick and groove. They are bifurcating. Eg: Trigonia, Unio.
Heterodonta or Teleodonta:
There are two kinds of teeth namely cardinal teeth or main teeth and lateral teeth. Eg: Venus, Meretrix.
Desmodonta:
True teeth and hinge plate are absent, but one or more laminae are present.Eg: Ostrea, Gryphaea,
Alectryonia.
Cyclodonta:
Hinge plate is absent and teeth are extremely bending. Eg: Cardium.
Edentulus:
The shells lacking dentition is called as Edentulus. Hinge ear may be present. Eg: Palaeoconcha,
Acharax.
MUSCULATURE:
The shells are closed by a means of muscles called adductor muscles. These muscles leave scar in the
interior of the valves. These scars are termed as adductor muscle scar. If two muscle scars are present, it is
called as dimyarian. If single muscle scar is present it is called as monomyarian. If two muscle scars are equal in
size, it is designated as isomyarian. When two muscle scars are different in size, it is called as anisomyarian or
heteromyarian. A line which connects two muscle scars is called pallial line. When it is smooth without any
bend, near the posterior adductor, it is termed as entire. If there is any bend near the posterior adductor scar, it is
called as pallial sinus. The pallial sinus may be angular or rounded. Eg: Venus (angular), Meretrix (Rounded).

CLASSIFICATION:
The classification of pelecypoda is mainly based on the following characters.
1. Nature of gills.
2. Nature of its dentition.
3. Nature of adductor scar.
4. Evolution.
According to Thielie 1935, the class pelecypoda are classified into three orders namely
1. Taxodonta
2. Anisomyaria
3. Eulamellibranchia
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY:
The earliest fossil are found from lower Ordovician bed. Many pelecypods are also reported from
Silurian and Devonian rocks. Fresh water species are found from Devonian bed. Brackish water pelecypods are
found in late Palaeozoic. During Mesozoic and Tertiary formation ,It shows peak population. In tertiary and
quarternary periods, it has maximum population. In general, it is long range fossil from lower Ordovician to
Recent.
FOSSILS:
ARCA
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.

PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Taxodonta
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Inequilateral, equivalved.
ii.
Umbo: Prosogyral or nearly Orthogyral.
iii.
Ornamentation: Surface is ornamented with radial ribs and concentric striations.
iv.
Margin: Crenulated or dentated. Posterior margin elongated and anterior margin
rounded.
v.
Hinge line: Straight.
vi.
Dentition: Taxodont.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Dimyarian and Anisomyarian.
viii.
Pallial line: Simple or Entire.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Cardinal area present in which v shaped grooves called Chevron
grooves present. Taxodont dentition, straight hinge line.
AGE: Jurassic to Recent.
SPONDYLUS
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Anisomyaria
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Equilateral, equivalve.
ii.
Umbo: Orthogyral.
iii.
Ornamentation: Surface is ornamented with concentric growth lines and spiny radial
ribs.
iv.
Margin: Smooth and finely striated.
v.
Hinge line: Straight, hinge ear present.
vi.
Dentition: Isodont.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Monomyarian, Sub-central.
viii.
Pallial line: Nil.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Isodont dentition, straight hinge line, and spiny radial
ornamentation, hinge ear present.
AGE: Jurassic to Recent.
TRIGONIA
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Eulamellibranchia

IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.

MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Trigonal, inequilateral, bivalved.
ii.
Umbo: Opisthogyral.
iii.
Ornamentation: A ridge extending from the Umbo to the posterior margin divides the
shell into two parts with different ornamentation. The anterior portion possesses
concentric growth lines as deep grooves or furrows and ridges. The posterior portion is
ornamented with radiating striae.
iv.
Margin: Anterior margin rounded and posterior margin angular.
v.
Hinge line: Curved.
vi.
Dentition: Schizodont.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Dimyarian, and Anisomyarian.
viii.
Pallial line: Entire.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Trigonal shape and double ornamentation.
AGE: Jurassic to Recent.
VENUS
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Eulamellibranchia
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Inequilateral, Oval, and Convex.
ii.
Umbo: Prosogyral.
iii.
Ornamentation: Ornamented with concentric growth lines.
iv.
Margin: Smooth Posterior margin elongated and anterior margin rounded.
v.
Hinge line: Curved.
vi.
Dentition: Heterodont dentition.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Dimyarian and Isomyarian.
viii.
Pallial line: Pallial Sinus short angular near the posterior adductor scar.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Pallial Sinus present, Heterodont dentition.
AGE: Miocene to Recent.
MERETRIX
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Eulamellibranchia
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Inequilateral, Convex, Trigonal shape.
ii.
Umbo: Prosogyral.
iii.
Ornamentation: Surface is smooth and ornamented with concentric growth lines with
coloured enamel.
iv.
Margin: Smooth. Posterior margin elongated and anterior margin rounded.
v.
Hinge line: Curved.
vi.
Dentition: Heterodont dentition.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Dimyarian and Heteromyarian.
viii.
Pallial line: Pallial Sinus rounded.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Pallial Sinus rounded Heterodont dentition.
AGE: Cretaceous to Recent.
EXOGYRA
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Anisomyaria
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Inequilateral, inequivalve.
ii.
Umbo: Opisthogyral and spiral like fashion.
iii.
Ornamentation: Surface is smooth with fine lamellar structure.
iv.
Margin: Smooth.
v.
Hinge line: Short and curved.
vi.
Dentition: Edentulus.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Monomyarian, Sub-central.
viii.
Pallial line: Nil.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Cahew nut shape and spiral umbo.
AGE: Upper Jurassic to Cretaceous.

I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.

OSTREA
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Anisomyaria
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Inequilateral, convex.
ii.
Umbo: Opisthogyral.
iii.
Ornamentation: Surface is ornamented with platy lamellar structure.
iv.
Margin: Irregular in outline.
v.
Hinge line: Short and curved. Ligament pit triangular.
vi.
Dentition: Desmodont.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Monomyarian, Sub-central.
viii.
Pallial line: Nil.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Shell convex, ornamented with desmodont dentition.
AGE: Triassic to Recent.
GRYPHAEA
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Anisomyaria
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Inequilateral, convex.
ii.
Umbo: Opisthogyral and incurved nature.
iii.
Ornamentation: Surface is ornamented with platy foliated lamellar structure.
iv.
Margin: Irregular in outline.
v.
Hinge line: Short.
vi.
Dentition: Desmodont.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Monomyarian, Central.
viii.
Pallial line: Nil.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Incurved umbo, platy lamellar ornamentation, monomyarian
adductor scar.
AGE: Triassic to Recent.
ALECTRYONIA OR LOPHA
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Pelecypoda
ORDER
: Anisomyaria
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Inequilateral.
ii.
Umbo: Opisthogyral.
iii.
Ornamentation: Surface is ornamented with coarse angular folds.
iv.
Margin: Highly crenulated with spine like projection. Posterior margin concave and
anterior margin convex.
v.
Hinge line: Short and curved.
vi.
Dentition: Desmodont.
vii.
Adductor Scars: Monomyarian, Sub-central.
viii.
Pallial line: Nil.
ix.
Diagnostic Features: Spinose margin.
AGE: Upper Jurassic to Cretaceous.

Difference between Pelecypoda and Brachiopoda

S.NO

PELECYPODA

BRACHIOPODA

1.

It consists of two valves namely right and left

valve.

It consist of brachial and pedicle valve.

2.

Muscle scars are same.

Muscle scars are different.

3.

Brachial skeleton is absent.

Brachial skeleton is present.

4.

Dentition pattern present.

Dentition pattern is absent.

5.

Pedicle opening absent.

Pedicle opening is present.

6.

They are vagrant benthos.

They are sessile benthos.

7.

Shell layer consist of three layers.

It is made up of multi layers.

8.

Orientation is uniform.

Orientation differs

CLASS- GASTEROPODA
The shell is calcareous. It is single piece so it is said to be as univalve. It consists of a long tube
opening at one end and tapering to a point at the other end. The tube is screw like. Each coil is called whorl. The
line of contact between one whorl and the other is called suture. The suture may be inclined, horizontal or
oblique. The terminal part of the whorl is called apex. The first formed shell part is called protoconch. The part
of the shell directly opposite to the apex is called base. All the whorls except the body whorl is collectively
termed as spire. The last whorl in which the animal lives is called as body whorl. The angle between the two
sides of the spire is called spire angle. The spire angle may be acute (30-60), medium (60-120 ) or obtuse
(>120). The angle opposite to the spire is called pleural angle.
Aperture is an opening through which animal extend their foot. The apertural outline may be circular,
oval, elliptical, crescentic or slit like. The margin of the aperture is called peristome. Peristome is divided into
two parts namely
1. Inner lip
2. Outer lip
The outer lip may be inflected or reflected or may have irregular finger like processes. This irregular
finger like processes is known as digitation.
APERTURE:
Aperture is an opening through which animal extend their foot.
Parts of aperture:
The part of aperture farthest from apex is called anterior. The part of aperture nearest to apex is called
posterior. The anterior part of the aperture may have siphonal canal. The shells with siphonal canal are termed as
siphonostomatous. If there is any break in the outline of the aperture (or rounded in nature) such shell is called
as holostomatous. When there is a canal nearly at the posterior part of the aperture such canal is called sutural
canal. Operculum is a horny plate through which animal extend their foot. Columella is a twisted pillar like
structure which extends from base to apex. Umbilicus is a tube like structure which extends from base to apex.
Shells with columella are called imperforate shells. The shells with umbilicus are called perforate shells.
COILING:
The coiling may be dextural or sinistral. When the apex is pointing away from the observer, the aperture
is facing right hand side and coiling is in clockwise direction. Such coiling is called dextural coiling. When the

coiling is in anticlockwise direction and the aperture is facing left hand side. Such coiling is called sinistral
coiling. Sinistral shells are rare. Eg: Physa.
COILING IN GASTEROPODS OR SHELL FORMS IN GASTEROPODS:
Discoidal:
The coiling is at one plane and shows disc shaped. Eg: Planorbis.
Trochiform:
Conical, medium spire (60-120), flat base. Eg: trochus.
Turbinate:
Conical width, convex base.Eg: Turbo
Fusiform:
Spindle shaped, both ends (apex and base) are tapering and central part is bulging. Eg: Fusus, Murex
Cylindrical:
After forming some whorls the diameter of the whorl remains constant.
Eg: Pupilla
Globular:
Spire is short and depressed and the last whorl is spherical. Eg: Nautica, Helix.
Convolute:
Spire is absent. The last whorl covers all the preceding whorls. The length of the aperture is equal to
the length of the shell. Eg: Crypraea
Slit:
In some shells aperture is like a slit. Eg: Bellerophon.
SHELL LAYER:
The shell is made up of three layers.
Outer layer:
It is made up of conchiolin material.
Middle prismatic layer:
It is made up of calcite crystal.
Inner layer:
It is made up of aragonite.
ORNAMENTATION:
The surface of the shell may be smooth or ornamented with spiral ribs and various knobs, spines,
striations etc. sometimes coloured enamel is present in recent gasteropods.
CLASSIFICATION:
The classification of gasteropod is mainly based on soft parts. It has three orders namely
Order-I
Prosobranchiata
It has two sub-orders
1. Aspidobranchia
2. Pectinibranchia
Order II
Opisthobranchiata
It has two sub-orders
1. Nudibranchia
2. Techtinibranchia
Order-III
Pulmonata
It lives in land and fresh water.
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY:
The earliest gasteropods were found in lower Cambrian rocks. During Paleozoic and Mesozoic
periods gasteropod is less abundant than pelecypoda. They occupied a major population in cretaceous and
tertiary periods. In quarternary periods Gasteropods are more abundant. So it is a long range fossil from
Cambrian to recent.
FOSSILS:
PHYSA
I.
II.
III.

PHYLUM
CLASS
ORDER

: Mollusca
: Gasteropoda
: Pulmonata

IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.
I.
II.
III.
IV.

V.

MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Globular.
ii.
Spire: Medium spire angle, limited whorls.
iii.
Suture: Inclined.
iv.
Body whorl: Large.
v.
Aperture: Sub-oval.
vi.
Peristome: Holostomatous.
vii.
Umbilicus: Present.
viii.
Ornamentation: Smooth.
ix.
Coiling: Sinistral.
AGE: Triassic to Recent.
TROCHUS
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Gasteropoda
ORDER
: Prosobranchiata
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Trochiform.
ii.
Spire: Medium, numerous whorls, spire angle may be 60-120.
iii.
Suture: Inclined.
iv.
Body whorl: Small.
v.
Aperture: Sub-circular.
vi.
Peristome: Holostomatous.
vii.
Columella: Present.
viii.
Ornamentation: Surface is smooth with distinct growth lines.
ix.
Coiling: Dextural.
AGE: Triassic to Recent.
TURRITELLA
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Gasteropoda
ORDER
: Prosobranchiata
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Turrilitic cone.
ii.
Spire: Long, numerous whorls, acute spire.
iii.
Suture: Inclined.
iv.
Body whorl: Small.
v.
Aperture: Oval shape.
vi.
Peristome: Holostomatous.
vii.
Columella: Present.
viii.
Ornamentation: Spiral ribs and striations.
ix.
Coiling: Dextural.
AGE: Cretaceous to Recent.
FUSUS
PHYLUM
: Mollusca
CLASS
: Gasteropoda
ORDER
: Prosobranchiata
MORPHOLOGY:
i.
Shell form: Fusiform.
ii.
Spire: Numerous whorls, acute spire.
iii.
Suture: Inclined.
iv.
Body whorl: Large.
v.
Aperture: Oval with elongated anterior siphonal canal and posterior sutural canal.
vi.
Peristome: Siphonostomatous, outer lip inflected and inner lip reflected.
vii.
Columella: Present.
viii.
Ornamentation: Spiral ribs and striations.
ix.
Coiling: Dextural.
AGE: Cretaceous to Recent.