Animals of Baikal > Molluscums

Molluscums of lake Baikal

The experts total in Baikal about 150 kinds of belly-legs molluscums and 32 kinds of two-folding. From them 130 kinds - endemics. Them shells small-sized and thus very thin and fragile. The materials necessary for construction of a concha, are extracted from water, and in the Baikal water it is not enough them and so. In a strip of a surf the molluscums meet seldom.

They abundantly populate stones, became overgrown by seaweed, and sandy grounds enriched with organic matters on depths from 2-3 till 15-20 m. Though there are also exceptions - some kinds have appeared are capable to live on slimes of an abyssal zone.

It is molluscums with various under the form and size by a concha usually decorated on a surface with a diverse sculpture by the way of Kiel, edges, hillocks, and also most thin spiral and reticular striation, quite often with hairs, Following on an abundance of kinds group are Benedictiira submitted by the rather large forms with a smooth concha.

Belly-legs molluscums scratch detritus and the seaweed also plays an essential role in biological processes of bottom-dwelling conenoses of Baikal Excrement of as promote silting up of solid grounds, that creates specific conditions for round both aniliids and other organisms. By fishes in Baikal the molluscums are eaten by seldom.