Phylum
Common name: Mollusks
Scientific name: Mollusca
Mollusca, commonly known as mollusks, is a diverse phylum of invertebrates that includes a wide range of species such as snails, clams, squids and octopuses. They are characterized by a soft body, which in many species is protected by a hard shell. Mollusks are incredibly diverse, with over 85,000 recognized species, making them the second-largest phylum of animals. This group exhibits a wide range of forms and sizes, from tiny snails to large cephalopods like the giant squid.
In the context of reefkeeping, mollusks can be interesting and beneficial additions to aquariums. Many species, such as certain types of snails, are excellent algae grazers, helping to keep the tank clean. Clams, particularly the Tridacna species, are popular for their ability to filter water and their vibrant colors. However, it's important for hobbyists to research the specific needs and compatibility of mollusk species with other tank inhabitants, as some can be predatory or require specific water conditions.
Scientifically, mollusks are fascinating due to their varied reproductive strategies and adaptations to different environments. Some mollusks, like cephalopods, are known for their intelligence and complex behaviors, including the ability to change color and texture for communication and camouflage. This makes them not only intriguing pets but also subjects of scientific study.
Overall, mollusks offer a wide array of choices for aquarium enthusiasts, from the peaceful and beautiful clams to the more dynamic and interactive cephalopods. Their ecological roles and adaptability make them a vital part of marine ecosystems, both in the wild and in home aquariums.
Common name: Algae OctopusScientific name: Abdopus aculeatus
Common name: Vaillant's ChitonScientific name: Acanthopleura vaillantii
Common name: Needle CuttlefishScientific name: Acanthosepion aculeatum
Common name: Pharaoh CuttlefishScientific name: Acanthosepion pharaonis- Common name: A nudibranchScientific name: Aegires minor
- Common name: Green and black gill guard slugScientific name: Aegires serenae
- Common name: Aldisa barlettaiScientific name: Aldisa barlettai
Common name: Queen ConchScientific name: Aliger gigas
Common name: Coconut OctopusScientific name: Amphioctopus marginatus
Common name: California Sea HareScientific name: Aplysia californica- Common name: Brown Sea HareScientific name: Aplysia depilans
- Common name: mottled sea hareScientific name: Aplysia fasciata
- Common name: spotted sea hareScientific name: Aplysia punctata
- Common name: Ardeadoris egrettaScientific name: Ardeadoris egretta
Common name: Dwarf CuttlefishScientific name: Ascarosepion bandense
Common name: Broadclub CuttlefishScientific name: Ascarosepion latimanus
Common name: Papuan CuttlefishScientific name: Ascarosepion papuense
Common name: Flamboyant CuttlefishScientific name: Ascarosepion pfefferi- Common name: NudibranchScientific name: Asteronotus cespitosus
- Common name: flag pen shellScientific name: Atrina vexillum
Common name: Spiral Babylon SnailScientific name: Babylonia spirata- Common name: Berghia NudibranchScientific name: Berghia stephanieae
- Common name: Marten's BerthellaScientific name: Berthella martensi
- Common name: A nudibranchScientific name: Cadlinella ornatissima
Common name: California ConeScientific name: Californiconus californicus
Common name: Starry Night OctopusScientific name: Callistoctopus luteus
Common name: Atlantic White-Spotted OctopusScientific name: Callistoctopus macropus- Common name: Indian CaloriaScientific name: Caloria indica
Common name: Warty Egg CowrieScientific name: Calpurnus verrucosus
Common name: Horned HelmetScientific name: Cassis cornuta- Common name: purple-edged ceratosomaScientific name: Ceratosoma tenue
- Common name: trilobate ceratosomaScientific name: Ceratosoma trilobatum
- Common name: pleasant chelidonuraScientific name: Chelidonura amoena
- Common name: White-capped swallowtail slugScientific name: Chelidonura inornata
- Common name: Chelidonura pallidaScientific name: Chelidonura pallida
- Common name: Variable ChelidonuraScientific name: Chelidonura varians
Common name: Rose Branch MurexScientific name: Chicoreus palmarosae
Common name: Ramose MurexScientific name: Chicoreus ramosus
Common name: West Indian Green ChitonScientific name: Chiton tuberculatus
Common name: Anna's ChromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris annae- Common name: Chromodoris aspersaScientific name: Chromodoris aspersa
- Common name: Diana's ChromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris dianae
- Common name: elisabeth's chromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris elisabethina
- Common name: leopard chromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris leopardus
- Common name: loch's chromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris lochi
- Common name: Magnificent ChromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris magnifica
- Common name: Michael's NudibranchScientific name: Chromodoris michaeli
- Common name: pyjama slugScientific name: Chromodoris quadricolor
- Common name: Strigate ChromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris strigata
- Common name: willan's chromodorisScientific name: Chromodoris willani
Common name: Strawberry ConchScientific name: Conomurex luhuanus
Common name: Princely ConeScientific name: Conus aulicus
Common name: Lettered ConeScientific name: Conus litteratus
Common name: Marble ConeScientific name: Conus marmoreus
Common name: Leaf SheepScientific name: Costasiella kuroshimae- Common name: Crimora luteaScientific name: Crimora lutea
Common name: Burrow's ChitonScientific name: Cryptoplax larvaeformis
Common name: Electric Flame ScallopScientific name: Ctenoides ales
Common name: Smooth Flame ScallopScientific name: Ctenoides mitis
Common name: Flame ScallopScientific name: Ctenoides scaber
Common name: Flamingo Tongue SnailScientific name: Cyphoma gibbosum
Common name: Tiger CowrieScientific name: Cypraea tigris
Common name: Bullmouth HelmetScientific name: Cypraecassis rufa- Common name: bohol discodorisScientific name: Discodoris boholiensis
- Common name: blunt-end sea hareScientific name: Dolabella auricularia
- Common name: Black-margined DoriprismaticaScientific name: Doriprismatica atromarginata
- Common name: Starry NudibranchScientific name: Doriprismatica stellata
- Common name: crown dotoScientific name: Doto coronata
- Common name: lettuce slugScientific name: Elysia crispata
- Common name: Eastern Pacific Emerald ElysiaScientific name: Elysia diomedea
- Common name: lettuce slugScientific name: Elysia ornata
- Common name: Sapsucking SlugScientific name: Elysia verrucosa
- Common name: green elysiaScientific name: Elysia viridis
Common name: Bumblebee SnailScientific name: Engina mendicaria- Common name: Ercolania boodleaeScientific name: Ercolania boodleae
Common name: Dotted Dove ShellScientific name: Euplica scripta
Common name: Berry's Bobtail SquidScientific name: Euprymna berryi
Common name: Spindle EuthriaScientific name: Euthria cornea
Common name: True TulipScientific name: Fasciolaria tulipa- Common name: much-desired flabellinaScientific name: Flabellina exoptata
- Common name: purple aeolisScientific name: Flabellina iodinea
- Common name: striped flabellinaScientific name: Flabellina lineata
- Common name: red-lined flabellinaScientific name: Flabellina rubrolineata
- Common name: A nudibranchScientific name: Glossodoris cincta
- Common name: hikuero glossodorisScientific name: Glossodoris hikuerensis
- Common name: Pallid glossodorisScientific name: Glossodoris pallida
- Common name: brown margin glossodorisScientific name: Glossodoris rufomarginata
- Common name: Goniobranchus albopunctatusScientific name: Goniobranchus albopunctatus
- Common name: Goniobranchus aliusScientific name: Goniobranchus alius
- Common name: Ringed chromodorisScientific name: Goniobranchus annulatus
- Common name: Purple-Edged CeratosomaScientific name: Goniobranchus aureopurpureus
- Common name: co's goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus coi
- Common name: Collingwood's ChromodorisScientific name: Goniobranchus collingwoodi
- Common name: Reliable GoniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus fidelis
- Common name: Twin GoniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus geminus
- Common name: goemetric goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus geometricus
- Common name: lumpy goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus hintuanensis
- Common name: Kuni's nudibranchScientific name: Goniobranchus kuniei
- Common name: red-netted goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus reticulatus
- Common name: red-netted goniobranchusScientific name: Goniobranchus tinctorius
- Common name: NudibranchScientific name: Goniobranchus tritos
- Common name: angled dorisScientific name: Goniodoris nodosa
Common name: Knobbed TritonScientific name: Gutturnium muricinum- Common name: Red spotted transluscent slugScientific name: Gymnodoris ceylonica
- Common name: batangas halgerdaScientific name: Halgerda batangas
- Common name: Halgerda carlsoniScientific name: Halgerda carlsoni
- Common name: willey's halgerdaScientific name: Halgerda willeyi
Common name: Greater Blue-ringed OctopusScientific name: Hapalochlaena lunulata
Common name: Southern Blue-ringed OctopusScientific name: Hapalochlaena maculosa
Common name: Chiragra Spider ConchScientific name: Harpago chiragra- Common name: Spanish dancerScientific name: Hexabranchus sanguineus
- Common name: Bear paw clamScientific name: Hippopus hippopus
- Common name: China clamScientific name: Hippopus porcellanus
- Common name: Giant hypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris apolegma
- Common name: Bullocks HypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris bullockii
- Common name: Kanga HypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris kanga
- Common name: spotted hypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris maculosa
- Common name: beautiful hypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris pulchella
- Common name: tryon's hypselodorisScientific name: Hypselodoris tryoni
Common name: Two-toned Pygmy SquidScientific name: Idiosepius pygmaeus