Tusk Shells: Scaphopoda
Behavior And Reproduction
All tusk shells burrow into soft ocean bottoms. Some species completely bury themselves, as much as 16 inches (400 millimeters). Others are shallow burrowers and leave the tips of their shells sticking out of the mud.
Most species require males and females to reproduce. Only a few species are hermaphrodites, with individuals having both male and female reproductive organs. Eggs and sperm are released into the water, where fertilization takes place. The eggs hatch into free-swimming larvae (LAR-vee) that resemble the immature stages of other mollusks.
Additional topics
- Tusk Shells: Scaphopoda - Tusk Shells And People
- Tusk Shells: Scaphopoda - Physical Characteristics
- Other Free Encyclopedias
Animal Life ResourceMollusks, Crustaceans, and Related SpeciesTusk Shells: Scaphopoda - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Tusk Shells And People, Tusk Shell (antalis Entalis): Species Account - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS