what does the word mollusca mean
Mollusca, meaning âsoft-bodied,â is one of the largest phylums in the animal kingdom. The word mollusc (or mollusk) derives from the Latin word âmollis,â which means âsoft.â There are an estimated 200,000 species of mollusk worldwide accounting for nearly a quarter of all marine life.Familiar phylum species include snails, squid, octopuses, clams and oysters.ephalopods. The 600 to 650 species of cephalopod inhabit the sea, including squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish. Most lack the shell of other mollusca, but have tentacles that propel them through the water using suction.