Shells Louisana Sea Grant 2015 1 What are

Shells Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 1

What are Shells? • What types of animals have shells? • Shells are hard protective coverings worn on the outside of some animal’s bodies. • Think about what shells are made of. Turn to your shoulder partner and discuss what you think makes up a shell. • Some animals have no bones, they care called invertebrates. • Many invertebrates live inside of their shells. These shells are called exoskeletons. Louisiana Sea Grant 2015 2

Mollusks • Mollusks are invertebrates found in or near water, like marshes, rivers, lakes and oceans. • Examples of mollusks are snails, mussels, squids , and octopus. • We will learn about mollusks with shells! Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 3

Univalve (or Gastropod) Mollusks • What do you think a univalve mollusk is? Think about the prefix “uni”…. . You and your partner discuss what type of mollusk would be a univalve. • univalve mollusk shell can take on many shapes: small ice cream cone, coiled like a spiral, or a small slipper. Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 4

Univalve Mollusks • Univalves include periwinkles, snails, abalone and conch. • To eat they must come part way out of its shell. If a predator comes near the gastropod animal it will quickly retreat back into its shell for protection. Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 5

Bivalve Mollusks • What do you think a bivalve mollusk is? Think about the prefix “bi”…. . You and your partner discuss what type of mollusk would be a bivalve. • If a univalve mollusk has one shell a bivalve mollusk must have_____ shells! • The shells are hinged together. • Bivalves can be found in fresh water, like lakes and rives, or in saltwater, like the ocean Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 6

Bivalve Mollusks • Bivalve shells are usually round or oval, but some can be shaped like a fan. • Clams, oysters, and scallops are bivalves • A bivalve mollusk gets its food by opening its two shells to pump in water. They filter out and eat tiny plants and animals in the water. Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 7

Periwinkle Snail Shell • Univalve or Bivalve mollusk? • very small, and can be found clinging to a blade of marsh grass in coastal marshes. • attach to docks and wooden pilings in bays and on shorelines. • close themselves into their shells using their tail to keep from drying out or protect themselves from predators. Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 8

Mussels • Mussel shells are most common in creeks, ponds. and marshes in Louisiana. • Many mussels are edible • They have oval shells that may be light brown, purple or rose in color. • These features have made freshwater mussels popular among collectors since the early 19 th century. Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 9

Oysters • Found in shallow saltwater, such as estuaries and bays • Shells are oval or pear-shaped • Light grey on the outside and very rough to touch. • Oysters are edible, and are high in calcium, iron, and protein. Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 10

Rangia Clam • Rangia clam can live in areas with some saltwater, but prefer fresher water, like those in rivers or Lake Ponchatrain. • Early peoples along coastal used them as a food source for, but the meat is not very nutritious. • Indigenous people discarded shells along the waterways, now called “middens” • Scientists researched the use of the rangia clam in BP oil spill clean up efforts • Rangia clams have been harvested for construction and road fill. Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 11

Shell Match Activity • Use your shell booklet to help you match the pictures of the shells with their descriptions. • Record your answers on your recording sheet. Louisana Sea. Grant 2015 12