: Unlike gastropods (snails), bivalves lack a distinct head. Their body consists of a torso and a muscular "foot" used for burrowing or anchoring.
: Most bivalves are filter feeders. They draw water into their mantle cavity through a siphon, where specialized gills trap organic particles. Internal Systems : Unlike gastropods (snails), bivalves lack a distinct head
: The nervous system is simplified, consisting of three pairs of ganglia. Ecological and Economic Importance : Unlike gastropods (snails)
: They possess an open circulatory system with a heart and vessels. : Unlike gastropods (snails), bivalves lack a distinct head
: By filtering vast amounts of water, bivalves like mussels and oysters act as natural water purifiers in ecosystems.
: They breathe through plate-like gills (ctenidia) located in the mantle cavity.