Mollusks

With more than 65,000 living species and some 35,000 fossils, mollusks are the most numerous group of animals next to the insects. They are among the most important invertebrates and include well-known forms such as clams, oysters, squid, octopi, and sea snails. They live in all the seas of the world, from rocky and sandy coasts to the deepest parts of the oceans. They are also found in freshwater, in both rivers and lakes. They first appeared on earth more than 500 million years go.
They can measure from a few millimeters to more than 18 meters (giant squid). There are three main groups:
- Gastropods or snails
- Bivalves, such as the mussels and coquina clams
- Cephalopods or octopi and squid.
Specimens of other minor groups also on show at the Museum are the scaphopods and amphineura (limpets).

Ground Floor