Systematic Palaeontology: The Phylum Mollusca

by

Debbie Langer and Chris Paul, University of Liverpool

This interactive courseware module is intended to introduce first and/or second year students to the basics of invertebrate palaeontology, including definition, basic morphology, mode of life and geological applications of a major group of invertebrate fossils. The module occupies about 10Mb and consists of five units accessed via a main menu. Throughout the module extensive use is made of fossil mollusca images, animations and hot words. Clicking on a hot word leads to the display of a description, definition or more detailed explanation of the word's meaning. Information is presented in a variety of ways, including multiple-choice questions. With these, if an incorrect answer is selected, the reasons why it is incorrect are explained, clues about the correct answer given, and the user asked to try again. When the correct answer is given, a confirming explanation is given and the user allowed to proceed. The units are accessed from this menu.

1. About this module

This short unit explains the layout of the material and the way to navigate through the module.

Definition and Clasification: this page from the start of the Nautiloids section shows the way multiple choice questions are used

2. Overview of the Mollusca

In this unit molluscan morphological terms are described, molluscan diversity is described, the environments they are found in, the eight classes into which they are divided, and their hypothetical ancestral form. The characteristic features of molluscs are described and how they can be distinguished from other fossil groups.

Basic Anatomy: this diagram of a modern Nautilus is used to define the anatomy of members of the order nautiloidea

3. Class Cephalopoda

In this unit the three subclasses of the Class Cephalopoda - Nautiloidea, Ammonoidea, and Coleoidea - are treated separately. For each group of fossils the sub-units include Definition and Classification, Basic Anatomy, Functional Morphology, Mode of Life, Stratigraphic Distribution and (for ammonites only) Geological Applications.

Geological History and Evolution: this animated diagram builds up to show the time ranges of different types of nautiloid

4. Class Gastropoda

This unit is divided into a) Introduction, Definition and Classification, b)Geological History and Evolution, c) Functional Morphology and Mode of Life, and d) Basic Anatomy.

Geological Applications: the types and significance of suture lines in the Ammonoids is explained here

5. Assessment Questions

This short assessment consists of 10 questions. There is no immediate feedback but a list of questions answered correctly at the end.

Functional Morphology: the user is asked to select the correct picture in this partof the Coleoids unit

Running the Software

The different parts of the module are accessed via a main menu and navigation around the module is by means of buttons along the base of the screen. Hot words when clicked present a definition of that word. The definition may include a photograph or diagram.

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