Mollusks Weekly

This being the last issue of the newspaper this school year we will not dig into the heart of malacology, but instead I will leave you with a few interesting facts about our slimy invertebrate friends.

• Mollusk blood is (often) blue.

• Shells are secreted in liquid form before hardening into the shapes we are used to.

• In the animal kingdom, only molluscs possess a radula (a small rasping tongue).

• The phylum Molluca is the second largest phylum in the animal kingdom.

Another incredible thing to remember about molluscs is that without them our lives would be completely different. Over the centuries thousands of uses for molluscs have been discovered, of which I will name but a few: culinary delicacies, jewelry, horns, money, ink, dye, clothing, tools . . .

To end it, off a little poem.

Now I know

Five was I,

or maybe six,

when I first combed the beach

in search of shells.

Along the shoreline with my dad,

barefooted we strode along.

I found one here,

two over there,

another further down.

I picked them up

and handed them to my father.

He looked at me and smiled:

"You must be working out for you've a lot of mussels!" he chuckled then,

at what I did not know.

Today I do.

Enjoy. Have a wonderful summer vacation.

Sea ya!

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