Loboconcha

mollusk supraclass

Also known as: Diasoma

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June 30, 2026

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The term "Loboconcha" refers to a supraclass within the Mollusca phylum, specifically a branch of the subclass Conchifera. This group includes bivalves, which are suspension feeders, and scaphopods, also known as tusk shells. These organisms share a common ancestor in the extinct class Rostroconchia.1

Loboconchans are characterized by a mantle that enlarges its shell to enclose the body and an elongated anterior foot used for moving through sand or mud. In contrast, the supraclass Visceroconcha, which includes gastropods and cephalopods, has a distinct head with eyes separate from the mantle and shell. The scaphopods, or tusk shells, are characterized by a shell that is fused mid-ventrally and a head with tentacles.12

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mollusk
Evolution and paleontology
…branches called subclades: the supraclass Loboconcha (or Diasoma), including the suspension-feeding bivalves, and the infaunal scaphopods, sharing a common ancestor in the fossil class Rostroconchia. These groups have a mantle with the shell enlarged in width to envelop the soft body as well as an anterior elongated foot to live…
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…branches called subclades: the supraclass Loboconcha (or Diasoma), including the suspension-feeding bivalves, and the infaunal scaphopods, sharing a common ancestor in the fossil class Rostroconchia. These groups have a mantle with the shell enlarged in width to envelop the soft body as well as an anterior elongated foot to live…
Read More