FORAGING TACTICS IN MOLLUSCA: A REVIEW OF THE FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF THEIR MOST OBSCURE CLASSES (APLACOPHORA, POLYPLACOPHORA, MONOPLACOPHORA, SCAPHOPODA AND CEPHALOPODA)

Abstract

Mollusca is regarded as the second most diverse phylum of invertebrate animals. It presents a wide range of geographic distribution patterns, feeding habits and life standards. Despite the impressive fossil record, its evolutionary history is still uncertain. Ancestors adopted a simple way of acquiring food, being called deposit-feeders. Amongst its current representatives, Gastropoda and Bivalvia are two most diversely distributed and scientifically well-known classes. The other classes are restricted to the marine environment and show other limitations that hamper possible researches and make them less frequent. The upcoming article aims at examining the feeding habits of the most obscure classes of Mollusca (Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Monoplacophora, Scaphoda and Cephalopoda), based on an extense literary research in books, journals of malacology and digital data bases. The review will also discuss the gaps concerning the study of these classes and the perspectives for future analysis.