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#molluscs — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #molluscs, aggregated by home.social.

  1. "The fan mussel Pinna nobilis, the largest bivalve endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, has experienced a near-total collapse since 2016 due to mass mortality events (MMEs) primarily caused by the protozoan parasite Haplosporidium pinnae. Now listed as Critically Endangered, the species is considered functionally extinct across most of its native range. However, recent surveys in the Thau Lagoon (southern France) revealed a large resilient population, with total abundance previously estimated at over 100,000 individuals. Within this population, exceptionally high densities were recorded along the Tocs sandbank system and the adjacent Quilles sector. Densities were quantified by freediving-based 100 m² belt transects (50 m × 2 m; n = 89) across 15 stations. Our study reports unprecedented densities, with a global mean of 78.6 ± 8.7 individuals/100 m² and a maximum of 511 individuals/100 m², surpassing previously reported values. Extrapolation within a conservative 180-ha core survey area yields a total abundance exceeding 1.4 million individuals."

    #molluscs
    @dantheclamman

    nature.com/articles/s41598-026

  2. They have a bizarre and somewhat brutal biological quirk. Because their anatomy is so large, they occasionally get "stuck" during mating. When this happens, one slug will actually chew off the other's phallus to separate. This is called apophallation. The "victim" then lives the rest of its life as a female (they are #hermaphrodites).

    #photography
    #molluscs
    #BananaSlug
    #apophallation

  3. A banana slug navigates difficult terrain in Pacific Grove, California, US. It has a phallus that can stretch the entire length of its body (up to 15cm), and it emits a tongue-numbing mucous to deter predators.

    Photograph: Rory Merry/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

    #photography
    #molluscs
    #BananaSlug

  4. #Sciart for #ValentinesDay 💕:
    Heart Cockles! (Corculum cardissa)
    “Cardium,” Plate 59 in General Conchology by William Wood (London, 1815)
    Via Biodiversity Heritage Library:
    flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrar
    #Shells #Mollusks #Molluscs