Mollusks are invertebrates characterized by a soft body, often enclosed in a shell. This group encompasses snails, slugs, octopus, squid, and sea shells of all kinds. The octopus, squid, cuttle fish, and nautilus have been separated into a special group called cephalopods. Each has a head with an extension of arms and tentacles.

Shells are treasure washed up from the sea. Ancient peoples used shells as a form of money, of value. Gifts of shells were shared; shells ornamented peoples clothing for decoration and prestige. Sometimes, when we hold a shell up to our ear, we can hear the remnants and memory of the sea.

Shells vary in sizes from the smallest of small to rare giant shells pulled from ocean floor. It is a challenge to categorize and sort shells, but so much fun and educational as well. For a pictorial guide to shells found on the East Coast of Canada, check out the Assateague Seashells site.

Clams, scallops and oysters are filter feeders. They eat by pumping water through their bodies to remove the plants and animals in the water. These shellfishes can live in beds of enormous numbers - proof that sea water is filled with a wonderful richness of tiny plants and animals that can be eaten.

Octopus and starfish eat shellfish. Under each of the five arms of the starfish are hundreds of tube-shaped feet that look like suction cups. When a starfish finds a clam or an oyster, it wraps its arms around the creature's shell. Using its suction cups to get a good grip, the starfish slowly pries open the shell, drawing the soft clam or oyster to its mouth. An octopus drills a little hole in the clam's shell with its ribbon of teeth. Then it sends a poison into the shell through the hole. The poison paralyzes the clam's muscles and the shell opens easily. The sea otter enjoys shellfish as well, preferring abalone. He swims on his back and using rocks as tools, cracks open the shells.

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