Where do molluscs live?
Most molluscs live in the water but some molluscs are land living, such as the snail and slug. Molluscs live in freshwater habitats, along rocky shores and even in gardens. Most molluscs have shells and a radula, which is like a tongue but with thousands of tiny teeth. The largest group of molluscs are gastropods which include snails and slugs.
Sea slug
Sea slugs can be many different colours and sizes ranging from a few millimetres to over 30 centimetres long. Sea slugs move very slowly which makes them an easy meal for animals such as crabs, lobsters, fish and humans. Sea slugs feed on algae and plankton.
Octopus
Octopuses can be found in warmer waters. An octopus has eight limbs or tentacles. If an octopus loses a tentacle, another one will grow back. Octopuses live alone and like to shelter in rocks and corals.
Chiton
Chitons normally hide in cracks or under boulders. They are protected from predators with eight overlapping plates. Chitons feed on algae. Their eyes are inside of their shell. 90% of chitons are found in Australia, and nowhere else.
Squid
Squid have a very large head and brain. They can move very quickly through the water by forcing water out of their body. They use gills to breathe so they do not need to come to the surface. Squid have a jaw that is similar to a parrot’s beak. If a squid is escaping from another animal, it will expel a cloud of black ink, making it hard for the predator to see.
