Puhatesteknél

Puhatesteknél, which translates to "soft-bodied animals" in Hungarian, refers to a broad phylum of invertebrates known as Mollusca. This diverse group encompasses a wide range of creatures, from familiar snails and clams to more complex organisms like octopuses and squids. Despite their varied appearances, mollusks share several key characteristics. They typically possess a soft body, often protected by a hard shell secreted by a specialized organ called the mantle. Many have a muscular foot adapted for locomotion, and a radula, a ribbon-like structure with teeth, used for feeding.

The phylum Mollusca is divided into several classes, including Gastropoda (snails, slugs), Bivalvia (clams, oysters, mussels), Cephalopoda (octopuses, squids, nautiluses), and Polyplacophora (chitons). Their habitats are equally diverse, found in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments worldwide. Many species play important ecological roles, serving as food sources for other animals or contributing to nutrient cycling. Some mollusks, like oysters and mussels, are also economically significant, harvested for food and pearls. Others, such as slugs and snails, can be considered agricultural pests. The study of mollusks is known as malacology.