mollusc; mollusk
A biological term for molluscs; often used in scientific contexts. The more common everyday term is 軟体動物 (なんたいどうぶつ).
See also: 軟体動物
Molluscs include squid, octopus, and the like.
More common and general term for molluscs; 軟体生物 is a slightly more technical or formal synonym.
Compound of 軟体 (soft body) + 生物 (living thing). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is a straightforward modern scientific coinage.