What is a mollusc?
Slugs, snails, octopuses, squid, clams, and mussels are all molluscs. Molluscs are soft-bodied invertebrates. Invertebrates are animals that have no skeleton or backbone. Most molluscs live in the water. Some molluscs, such as snails and slugs, live on the land.
Molluscs have a ribbon-like tongue which is covered in thousands of tiny teeth. It is called the radula. Most molluscs also have a shell made out of calcium.
Fun facts about molluscs
- A snail can sleep for 3 years!
- Snails have very poor eyesight and cannot hear.
- Snails and slugs need moist soil to survive.
- The giant squid is the largest creature without a backbone.
- The word 'mollusc' means soft body.
