>   Here is a question to think about: For each of the continents which are
>the largest and smallest of the various classes of mollusks? Think not
>only marine but also freshwater and terrestrial habitats.  Also lets not
>focus only on the bivalves and gastropods but also consider the Scaphopoda
>(Tusk Shells), Polyplacophora (Chitons), Cephalopoda, and [Caudeofoveata
>and Solenogaster] (formerly the Aplacophora) and Monoplacophora.
>   Consider the continents of North America, South America, Europe, Asia,
>Africa, and Australia.  You might also be interested in commenting on the
>Pacific Islands also and Antarctica.  I'm looking forward to the results.

I assume that you are talking about numbers of species, not individuals.

I think that for most places Gastropoda is by far the most speciose,
with Bivalvia some way behind; Cephalopoda, then Polyplacophora way
back, Aplacophora sl, with monoplacophora trailing a distant last.

Certainly this is the case for the continent of New Zealand (and yes,
NZ IS a continent).

Antarctica? My sample taken from ice in the Ice Pinnacles near Mt
Discovery contains a bit over 4x as many gastropod spp as bivalves.
Most are micros.

NZ Cenozoic fossil faunas reflect this also.

I note that Harry Lee took the question as being of actual size of
the largest or smallest species. Please clarify?
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
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