Mollusca
The mollusca consists of many types of classes and about 100,000 species. There are many different kinds of molluscans in the world, ranging from sea animals to land creatures. The sea mollusca uses gills as a means of respiration.
The mollusca consists of many types of classes and about 100,000 species. There are many different kinds of molluscans in the world, ranging from sea animals to land creatures. The sea mollusca uses gills as a means of respiration.
Octopus (Octopoda)
An octopus is a mollusk with eight arms and sucking tentacles. Octopus breathe through their gills. They use their three chambered hearts to absorb and transport oxygen throughout the body. The mantle, the main body part of the octopus, sucks in oxygen, and the oxygen is sent right through the gills. The gill hearts pump blood throughout the body and to the gills. Once the blood gets to the gills, excess waste is excreted out of the body and fills up on oxygen.
Squid (Teuthida)
Squids are mollusks that can have up to ten arms and function much like the octopus. They breathe by pumping water through their mantles. The oxygen in the sea is absorbed when the squids move. Squids receive their oxygen through their long gills called lamellae. When the water is pumped into the squid, the oxygen is squeezed in as well so it can breathe. Also, the ventricular heart proceeds to pump the oxygen throughout the rest of the body.
Sea Slugs (Nudibranchia)
Sea slugs are bright colored animals that latch on to coral or rocks in the water. Much like the other molluscans, the sea slugs breathes from their gills. The gills of the sea slug are located on their backs, and are made of a feathery substance called plumes. While some sea slugs portray visible gills on their backs, many other sea slugs have no visible gill organ. If this is the case, then respiration directly occurs through their skin, much like sponges.