Question

How are the animals of Arthropoda different from those of Mollusca? Give five points with example?

Answer 1

Phylum Mollusca and Phylum Arthropoda are two major vertebrate phyla that include the highest number of species.

Phylum Arthropoda is the largest phylum of Animal Kingdom, whereas Phylum Mollusca is the second largest.

Differences between Phylum Mollusca and Phylum Arthropoda:

1. Molluscs are the soft-bodied invertebrates with one or two shells, arthropods are the invertebrates with jointed legs and appendages.

2. Molluscs have a thin outer layer called the mantle, which surrounds the body organs located insides the visceral mass. whereas arthropods have a chitinous exoskeleton

3. Most Arthropods undergo Ecdysis/Moulting but molluscs do not undergo ecdysis. Ecdysis is the phenomenon of shedding the chitinous exoskeleton at regular intervals by Arthropods.

4. Mollusc species have a muscular foot for locomotion. where as arthropods like insects have wings to fly and joined foots.

5. Arthropods respire using gills, book gills, book lungs, and tracheal system. Molluscs respire using ctenidia.

Mollusks include snails, clams and squids. Arthropods include spiders, mites, scorpions, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, insects, etc.