Mantle (mollusc)
The mantle (also known by the
In many species of molluscs the
The words mantle and pallium both originally meant ‘cloak’ or ‘cape’; see
Mantle cavity
The mantle cavity is a central feature of molluscan biology. This cavity is formed by the mantle skirt, a double fold of mantle which encloses a water space. This space contains the mollusk's gills, anus, osphradium, nephridiopores, and gonopores.
The mantle cavity functions as a
The mantle is highly muscular. In cephalopods the contraction of the mantle is used to force water through a tubular siphon, the
Formation of mollusc shell
In shelled molluscs, the mantle is the organ that forms the shell, and adds to the shell to increase its size and strength as the animal grows. Shell material is secreted by the
Mantle of gastropods
The mantle of many gastropods is usually fully or partially hidden inside the gastropod shell.
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The marineCypraea chinensis, the Chinese cowry, showing its partially extended mantle.
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Cypraea chinensis with its mantle fully extended.
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The mantle of the land snailIndrella ampullais off-white in color and partly visible under the shell. The head and foot are red, and the foot fringe is off-white with narrow black lines.
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The mantle of the nudibranch Felimida purpurea has a marginal line of orange-yellow colour.
In species where the shell is small compared to the size of the body, more of the mantle shows. Shell-less slugs have the mantle fully visible. The dorsal surface of the mantle is called the notum, while the ventral surface of the mantle is called the hyponotum. In the family Philomycidae, the mantle covers the whole back side of the body.[2]
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The mantle and the head of thisBielzia coerulansis smooth, while the rest of the body is tubercled.
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Megapallifera mutabilis from Philomycidae shows enormously developed mantle
See also
- Mollusc shell, which is formed by the mantle
- Siphon, which is a part of the mantle in some groups of molluscs
References
- Encyclopædia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD
- ^ Tsai C.-L. & Wu S.-K. (2008). PDF "A New Meghimatium Slug (Pulmonata: Philomycidae) from Taiwan". Zoological Studies 47(6): 759-766.
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