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List of marine molluscs of South Africa

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Map of the Southern African coastline showing some of the landmarks referred to in species range statements

The list of marine molluscs of South Africa is a list of saltwater species that form a part of the molluscan fauna of South Africa. This list does not include the land or freshwater molluscs.

Mollusca is a phylum of protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (/ˈmɒləsks/). Around 76,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum after Arthropoda. The number of additional fossil species is estimated between 60,000 and 100,000, and the proportion of undescribed species is very high. Many taxa remain poorly studied.

Molluscs are the largest marine phylum, comprising about 23% of all the named marine organisms. They are highly diverse, not just in size and anatomical structure, but also in behaviour and habitat, as numerous groups are freshwater and even terrestrial species. The phylum is typically divided into 7 or 8 taxonomic classes, of which two are entirely extinct. Cephalopod molluscs, such as squid, cuttlefish, and octopuses, are among the most neurologically advanced of all invertebrates—and either the giant squid or the colossal squid is the largest known extant invertebrate species. The gastropods (snails, slugs and abalone) are by far the most diverse class and account for 80% of the total classified molluscan species. (Full article...)

Gastropoda

See List of marine gastropods of South Africa

Bivalvia

Bivalves in South Africa include:

Nuculidae

Mytilidae – Mussels

Perna perna

Arcidae – Ark clams

Noetiidae

Pinnidae – Pen shells

Gryphaeidae

Ostreidae – True oysters

Anomiidae – Saddle oysters

Gryphaeidae – Honeycomb oysters

Pteriidae – Pearl oysters

Pectinidae – Scallops

Limidae – File shells

Cardiidae – Cockles

Tridacnidae – Giant clams

Mactridae – Trough shells

Carditidae

Condylocardiidae

Solenidae

Lucinidae

Unionidae

Lasaeidae

Tellinidae

Gastrana matadoa

Teredinidae

Donacidae – Wedge shells

Psammobiidae – Sunset clams

Veneridae – Venus shells

Polyplacophora

Hairy chiton Chaetopleura (Chaetopleura) papilio

Chitons (Polyplacophora) in South Africa include:

Ischnochitonidae

Chitonidae

Callochitonidae

Acanthochitona

Chaetopleuridae

Cephalopoda

Cephalopods in South Africa include:

Octopoda – Octopus
Common octopus Octopus vulgaris

Octopodidae

Argonautidae

Paper nautilus Argonauta argo
Teuthida – Squid

Loliginidae

Sepiolida – Bobtail squid
  • Unidentified species (Cape Peninsula, both sides)[3]
Sepiida – Cuttlefish

Sepiidae

Spirulida – Ram's horn squid

Spirulidae

Scaphopoda

Tusk shells (Scaphopoda) in South Africa include:

Dentaliidae

Gadilidae

See also

Lists of molluscs of surrounding countries:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Day, J.H. A guide to marine life on South African shores. Balkema, Cape Town, 1969
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm Branch, G.M. Griffiths, C.L. Branch, M.L. Beckley, L.E. Two Oceans: A guide to the marine life of southern Africa. 5th impression, David Philip, Cape Town, 2000. ISBN 0-86486-250-4
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9
  4. ^ a b c d e f Kilburn, R. and Rippey, E. Sea Shells of Southern Africa MacMillan South Africa 1982 ISBN 0-86954-094-7
  5. ^ http://www.marinespecies.org accessed 11 January 2010
  6. ^ a b Branch, George. and Branch, Margo. The living shores of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town, 1981. ISBN 0-86977-115-9

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