How Do You Spell MOLLUSCA?

Pronunciation: [mˈɒlʌskə] (IPA)

Mollusca is a scientific classification for a phylum of invertebrate animals that includes snails, clams, and octopuses. The word is spelled with two "l"s after the "o", as in /məˈlʌskə/, because it derives from Latin. In Latin, the word is spelled "Mollusca" and the double "l" represents the sound /l/ and is pronounced with a clear and distinct "l" sound. The correct spelling and pronunciation is important when discussing scientific classifications, as it allows for clear and precise communication among researchers and scholars.

MOLLUSCA Meaning and Definition

  1. Mollusca is a taxonomic phylum that includes a large and diverse group of invertebrate animals. It is derived from the Latin word "molluscus," meaning soft-bodied, which aptly describes the characteristic feature of these animals. With over 100,000 known species, Mollusca is the second-largest phylum in the animal kingdom, encompassing a wide range of organisms, including snails, clams, squids, and octopuses.

    The defining anatomical feature of mollusks is the presence of a soft and unsegmented body, often protected by a calcareous shell. This shell, composed of calcium carbonate, can be found in various forms and sizes, or may be absent altogether in some species. Mollusks typically possess a muscular foot used for locomotion, a head with sensory organs, and a mantle that secretes the shell.

    The group exhibits a remarkable diversity in terms of ecological adaptations, habitats, and feeding strategies. Mollusks have successfully colonized marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments, occupying niches ranging from bottom dwellers to active swimmers. Some mollusks are herbivorous, feeding on algae and plants, while others are predators or filter feeders.

    Due to their ecological importance and economic value, mollusks are extensively studied by biologists and ecologists. They play essential roles in various ecosystems as decomposers, ecosystem engineers, and keystone species. Additionally, mollusks have notable economic significance as a food source for both humans and other animals, as well as in the production of pearls, dyes, and pharmaceutical compounds.

  2. One of Cuvier's grand divisions of the animal kingdom, which includes all the shell-fish proper-so called in reference to the circumstance that all these creatures have soft bodies, and are unsupported by any internal framework sufficient to merit the name of a skeleton.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for MOLLUSCA

  • nollusca
  • kollusca
  • jollusca
  • millusca
  • mkllusca
  • mlllusca
  • mpllusca
  • m0llusca
  • m9llusca
  • moklusca
  • moplusca
  • moolusca
  • molkusca
  • molpusca
  • molousca
  • mollysca
  • mollhsca
  • molljsca
  • mollisca

Etymology of MOLLUSCA

The word "Mollusca" comes from Latin and its original form is "molluscus" or "molluscum", which means "soft" or "soft-bodied". It derives from the Latin word "mollis", meaning "soft". The term was first used by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his classification system for organisms, known as binomial nomenclature, in the mid-18th century. Linnaeus used this term to categorize a group of animals that have soft bodies, including animals like snails, clams, and octopuses. Over time, "molluscus" was modified to "Mollusca" to indicate the plural form of the word to refer to the entire phylum of soft-bodied animals.

Similar spelling words for MOLLUSCA

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