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Mollusks usually hatch from the egg complete with a tiny shell that is often retained at the
apex of the adult shell. The shell provides protection from damage and predators and on the shore or land, it prevents the
loss of body fluids.
Its shell is mostly composed of calcium carbonate and can show great variation in shape
size thickness, sculpture, surface texture and shine. Marine examples are often thick and heavy while land specimens are light.
Why is it important?
The Bivalve shell is mainly used for protection. It adapts to its environment by using its
shell as a defense mechanism.
For example, if an organism of Bivalve, just happened to by placed in an unfamiliar environment,
and a predator was going to come about, how else would it protect itself? It really doesn't have anything else to use right?
So no matter where it is, it will be able to somehow defend itself from the different environment, climate and water.
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