Those Marvelous Mollusks! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Snail

The washing bath triton is just one of the thousands of species of snails. Snails are a type of gastropod mollusk found both on the land and in water. They make their homes in spiraling shells of differing colors and size. The shell provides them sanctuary from their predators. Snails can be found in trees, on the ground, and in both fresh and salt water. Snails rely on their sense of touch and smell when looking for food.

This is because most snails have notoriously poor eyesight and hearing.

Answer: True

It might surprise you to learn that all octopuses are venomous. In fact, all octopuses and squids are venomous. But, very few are actually dangerous to humans. One of the most notable octopuses is the blue-ringed octopus, whose venom can kill an adult man in just a few minutes.

The venom is usually used for hunting prey, but is sometimes used as a defense mechanism. Octopus venom is being studied for its use in treating cancer, pain, and allergies.

Answer: Giant clam

Bivalves could best be described as mollusks that have a two-part shell that are hinged in the back. Bivalves have no head and their body consists of a wedge-shaped foot. Bivalves include oysters, clams, and scallops. The giant clam makes its home in the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean.

These huge bivalves can be four feet (1.4m) long and weigh over 700 lbs. (320 kg.) The magnificent shells of these animals have been used as baptismal fonts in many European churches.

Answer: False

Often seen on the bottom of ocean-going ships and large sea mammals, barnacles look like they might be one of the many and varied animals that fall into the category of mollusk. The barnacle is actually a crustacean, like shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. Barnacles have legs inside their shells which are segmented like other crustaceans. Don't let having a shell confuse you.

The barnacles in this image had made their homes on the back of a baby whale.

Answer: Sperm whale

The giant squid, also known as Architeuthis dux, is probably the largest mollusk on our planet. It is also one of the most interesting. It lives in the deepest parts of the ocean, but comes to the middle depths in its hunt for food. It has three hearts, including a larger one that pumps oxygenated throughout the squid's body. Two smaller hearts pump blood through the gills.

Another odd fact is that the brain of a giant squid is shaped like a bagel. Its esophagus passes through the hole in the middle of their brain.

The giant squid's only real enemy is the sperm whale. Most adult sperm whales sport dozens of scars caused by the suckers on the tentacles of the giant squid. Very few giant squid have actually been found, many in the stomachs of sperm whales.

Answer: Floating on marine currents

Pelagic gastropods are those which spend their entire lives floating on marine currents without ever touching the bottom or the shore. Janthina can be found all over the world and are found on the shore only after severe ocean storms. This often causes their death. If you see one on the shore and pick it up, you will probably end up with purple fingers. Janthina use this strong purple dye as a defensive tactic against their enemies.

They also use bubble rafts to help them float in the currents. This photo shows a janthina with its attached bubble raft.

The ingenuity of the animal world is amazing!

Answer: Sea Slug

The sea hare is a type of sea slug. They have large wing-like flaps which they use for locomotion and to protect their gills. Sea hares are hermaphrodites with each animal having both male and female organs. In one of the more unusual displays under the sea, mating groups of sea hares can be seen sitting in a formation called a Roman circle.

When in this formation each animal inseminates the animal in front of it. A single sea hare can lay 500 million eggs in one year. Native Americans used the sea hare to obtain purple ink for dying cloth.

Answer: To change their color

Cuttlefish are masters of camouflage. They can change their color to match their surroundings. They do this by using millions of pigment cells called chromatophores. These cells are connected to the muscles of the cuttlefish and when the muscles are flexed pigment is released into the outer skin changing both the color and the pattern of the skin.

This ability is used to hide from predators and for mating displays when competing with other males.

Answer: Pill bug of the sea

The chiton is a common mollusk often called the pill bug of the sea. The chiton has a shell of overlapping plates which allow it to roll up into a ball when a predator finds it. The chiton, also, has hundreds of eyes which are composed of the same calcium carbonate mineral which makes their shells.

Answer: It is a clam that produces high quality pearls.

This is one of the varieties of mollusks that produce pearls. The mother-of-pearl coating the inside of the shell is the same nacre used by the mollusk to make a pearl. The species Pinctada maxima is one of the most valued mollusks. Called the gold-lipped oyster, it is found all over the Indian and Pacific oceans. Pearl-producing mollusks of any kind are often called oysters whether or not this is the correct name for the species.