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Septibranchoida
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Septibranchoida

mollusk order
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Quick Summary

The Septibranchoida is a small order of marine bivalve mollusks. These bivalves are characterized by gills that are significantly reduced to a horizontal, muscular partition with fenestrations. This unique gill structure allows some deep-sea species within this order to adopt a carnivorous diet, trapping small prey like crustaceans and worms using a specialized inhalant siphon. The classification of bivalves, including the Septibranchoida, is complex and debated among scientists, with different features like shell structure and internal anatomy being used for categorization.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
6 Britannica Sources
  1. Septibranchia
  2. bivalve - Critical appraisal
  3. Septibranchiata
  4. bivalve - The nervous system and organs of sensation
  5. pterobranch
  6. bivalve - Food and feeding

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