International research into molluscan phylogeny reveals deep animal relationship of snails and mussels

21.09.2011

Snails, mussels, squids – as different as they may look, they do have something in common: they all belong to the phylum Mollusca, also called molluscs. An international team of researchers with the participation of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has carried out research into the relationships among different molluscs as part of a wide-ranging molecular phylogenetic study.

<em>Theodoxus fluviatilis</em> (Neritae), a small species of freshwater and brackish water snail (about 0.5 centimeters) found in the Rhine river in Mainz (photo: Christof Kühne, JGU Institute of Zoology)

<em>Melanoides tuberculata</em> (Cerithioidea), a species of freshwater snail with an elongate, conical scale of about 1-2 centimeters in length (photo: Christof Kühne, JGU Institute of Zoology)

<em>Wirenia argentea</em> (Solenogastres) found in Norway is one of the species of marine mollusc for which comprehensive molecular data is now available (photo: Christiane Todt, University of Bergen/Norway)

Limacia clavigera is one the most colorful species of Scandinavian marine nudibranch (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia) (photo: Christiane Todt, University of Bergen/Norway)

<em>Arctica islandica</em> (Bivalvia) is the largest mussel in Northern Europe (about 12 centimeters) and probably one the oldest with more than 500 million years of existence (photo: Christiane Todt, University of Bergen/Norway)

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press release "International research into molluscan phylogeny reveals deep animal relationship of snails and mussels" (21 Sept. 2011)
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Professor Dr. Bernhard Lieb
Molecular Animal Physiology
Institute of Zoology
Johannes Gutenberg University
D 55099 Mainz
Tel +49 6131 39-23158
Fax +49 6131 39-24652
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