Cephalopods
The cephalopods are a class of molluscs. Members include octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, nautiluses and the fossil ammonites. They are characterised by a ring of tentacles around their mouth, and swim using a form of jet propulsion by squirting water out of their body. All cephalopods are carnivorous.
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Order
Octopuses (Octopoda)Octopuses divide into two types, the deep-sea finned octopuses and their finless, shallower water cousins. Most of the world's octopuses fall into the shallow water category.
Sepiida
Giant cuttlefish (species)
Squid (Teuthida)Squids are fast-swimming, predatory molluscs. They locate their prey by sight, and ensnare the victim by shooting out two of their tentacles armed with suckers or hooks.
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The cephalopods can hear you
Octopus and squid can hear.
About
A cephalopod (Greek plural Κεφαλόποδα (kephalópoda); "head-feet") is any member of the mollusc class Cephalopoda, characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a modification of the mollusk foot, a muscular hydrostat, into the form of arms or tentacles. Teuthology, a branch of malacology, is the study of cephalopods.
The class contains two extant subclasses. In the Coleoidea, the mollusk shell has been internalized or is absent; this subclass includes the octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish. In the Nautiloidea, the shell remains; this subclass includes the nautilus. About 800 distinct living species of cephalopods have been identified. Two important extinct taxa are Ammonoidea, the ammonites, and Belemnoidea, the belemnites.
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Scientific Classification
Class: Cephalopod (Cephalopoda)
Other members of the same phylum
- Amphibians (Amphibia)
- Barnacles, copepods and allies (Maxillopoda)
- Birds (Aves)
- Cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes)
- Insects (Insecta)
- Jellyfish (Scyphozoa)
- Lobe-finned fishes and allies (Sarcopterygii)
- Lobsters, woodlice and allies (Malacostraca)
- Mammals (Mammalia)
- Millipedes (Diplopoda)
- Polychaete worms (Polychaeta)
- Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
- Reptiles (Reptilia)
- Sea urchins (Echinoidea)
- Spiders, mites and allies (Arachnida)
- Starfish (Asteroidea)
Elsewhere on the web
- Cephalopoda (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- Tree of Life on cephalopods (tolweb.org)
- Cephalopod website (thecephalopodpage.org)
- Cephalopod (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
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