u6 Mollusk vocab

Malacology

• Study of fish.

• Study of insects.

• Study of mollusks.

• Study of reptiles.

Calcereous

• Describes structures that contain calcium such as shells, exoskeletons, and bones and function to support or protect an animal.

• Refers to structures that are soft and flexible, lacking any hard components.

• Describes organisms that primarily live in aquatic environments and have gills for respiration.

• Refers to the process of photosynthesis in plants, where sunlight is converted into energy.

Cephalopoda

• Squid, octopus, cuttlefish, nautilus (head foot)

• Crustaceans

• Mollusks

• Echinoderms

Mucus

• A sticky secretion used for locomotion, lubrication, or protection from foreign particles.

• A type of digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins.

• A hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

• A mineral that strengthens bones and teeth.

Tentacles

• Appendages which are flexible, because they have no rigid skeleton.

• Rigid structures used for support and movement.

• Short, stiff projections found on the surface of organisms.

• Hard, bony extensions used for defense.

Spermatophore

• A type of fish found in freshwater

• A capsule or packet enclosing sperm, produced by males of several invertebrate groups and a few vertebrates.

• A reproductive structure in flowering plants

• A method of asexual reproduction in fungi

Bioluminescence

• Production of light by means of a chemical reaction in an organism.

• The ability of an organism to produce sound.

• The process of photosynthesis in plants.

• A method of communication among animals.

Umbo

• Oldest part of the shell of a bivalve from which the shell grows.

• A type of bivalve found in freshwater environments.

• The outer layer of a bivalve shell that protects it from predators.

• A term used to describe the feeding mechanism of bivalves.

Chromatophore

• Cell responsible for the production of hormones in the body.

• Type of muscle cell found in the heart.

• Pigment cell, usually in the dermis, in which the pigment can be dispersed or concentrated; common in squid and cuttlefish.

• Cell that aids in the transmission of nerve impulses.

Torsion (gastropods)

• Rotation of the visceral mass, mantle, and shell 180˚ w/ respect to the head and foot of the gastropod. Brings the mantle cavity and anus to an anterior position above the head.

• A process where the shell of the gastropod becomes coiled and elongated.

• The mechanism by which gastropods can retract their head and foot into the shell for protection.

• A form of locomotion used by gastropods to move across surfaces.