Molluscs herbivores?

does anyone know if a mollusc is classified as a herbivore/vegitarian/primary consumer? i have researched but found information saying that some are herbivores and some are carnivorous so i am a bit confused. please help this is for part of a very important science assessment and i dont want to get it wrong :(


thanks

Molluscs herbivores?
Hey mate, hope i can help.





Molluscs describe animals from the Phylum: Mollusca.





This is one of the most diverse phyla on earth with animals ranging from giant squid to pearl oysters to garden snails.





I think you would be able to find a molluscan animal to fill any niche in a trophic map. The question you pose is too broad and cant be answered so simply.





Here are the major classes within mollusca:





Cephlapod: octopus, squid, cuttlefish etc. - most offen high end predators.- carnivores





Gastropod: snails, slugs, abalone, and most beautiful sea shells are made by these. Usually grazers on algae, herbivores





Bivalves: shelled animals with 2 shells (or valves). Pearl shell (my favourite, as I am a pearl diver..) mussels, oysters, giant clams. These usually feed on water borne phytoplankton or microscopic animals - herbivores and carnivores.





Then there are the polyplacophorans or chitons which are omnivorous, monoplacophorans like limpets, scaphopods which are tusk shells which are predatory and a few other lesser known classes with only a few known species in each.





Mollucs are a very ancient phyla of animals, and so they have had time to diversify. With that major diversity comes many avenues to find food.





So to answer your question, all of the above.





I hope that helped.
Reply:The terms you are asking about depend on what specific mollusk you are asking about. Snails are herbivores and primary consumers, since herbivores eat plants. If they eat only plants then they are also vegetarians. Squid and octopi are carnivores, secondary or even tertiary consumers. Clams are filter feeders so they eat microscopic plankton and zooplankton. They are primary consumers eating phytoplankton or in the case of zooplankton secondary consumers as well.