mollusk nutrition

Mollusks obtain their nutrition primarily by filtering or grazing on small particles, like plankton or algae, from their environment. Filter-feeding mollusks, such as clams and oysters, draw in water through specialized structures, trapping food particles with their gills. Grazing mollusks, like snails, scrape or cut food from surfaces using mouthparts called radulae. Some mollusks are omnivores and may consume plant matter, tiny animals, or detritus. Their digestive systems are adapted to efficiently process these foods, extracting nutrients necessary for growth, energy, and reproduction.