Bivalvia, in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class of marine and freshwater molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts. As a group, bivalves have no head and they lack some usual molluscan organs, like the radula and the odontophore. The class includes the clams, oysters, cockles, mussels, scallops, and numerous other families that live in saltwater, as well as a number of families that live in freshwater. The majority are filter feeders. The gills have evolved into ctenidia, specialised organs for feeding and breathing. Most bivalves bury themselves in sediment, where they are relatively safe from predation. Others lie on the sea floor or attach themselves to rocks or other hard surfaces. Some bivalves, such as the scallops and file shells, can swim. Shipworms bore into wood, clay, or stone and live inside these substances.
The order Ostreida includes the true oysters. One superfamily (Ostreoidea) and two extant families are recognised within it. The two families are Ostreidae, the true oysters, and Gryphaeidae, the foam oysters.
The Pteriomorphia comprise a subclass of saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs. It contains several major orders, including the Arcida, Ostreida, Pectinida, Limida, Mytilida, and Pteriida. It also contains some extinct and probably basal families, such as the Evyanidae, Colpomyidae, Bakevelliidae, Cassianellidae, and Lithiotidae.
Nuculidae is a family of small saltwater clams in the order Nuculida. Species in this family are commonly known as nut clams.
Isognomonidae is a family of medium-sized to large saltwater clams. They are pearl oysters, marine bivalve molluscs in the superfamily Pterioidea
Manzanellidae is a fossil family of bivalves, in the order Solemyida. They were previously considered containing fossil and recent members of Nucinellidae.
Hyotissa is a genus of large saltwater oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Gryphaeidae.
Hyotissa mcgintyi, also known as Parahyotissa mcgintyi, is a species of medium-sized saltwater "oyster", a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Gryphaeidae. This species occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean. Species in this genus are known as "honeycomb oysters" or "foam oysters" because under magnification, the majority of their shell structure is characteristically foam-like.
Nucula proxima, commonly known as the Atlantic nut clam, is a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from Nova Scotia to Texas, including Bermuda.
Noetia ponderosa, or the ponderous ark clam, is a marine clam in the family Noetiidae.
Polymesoda floridana, also known as the maritime marsh clam, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Cyrenidae.
Arcinella cornuta, or the Florida spiny jewelbox clam or Florida spiny jewel box, is a marine species of bivalve mollusc in the family Chamidae. It can be found along the coast of North Carolina to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Central America, and Venezuela.
In May 2010, a new taxonomy of the Bivalvia was published in the journal Malacologia. The 2010 taxonomy is known as the Taxonomy of the Bivalvia . The 2010 taxonomy was published as Nomenclator of Bivalve Families with a Classification of Bivalve Families. This was a revised system for classifying bivalve mollusks such as clams, oysters, scallops, mussels and so on. In compiling this new taxonomy, the authors used a variety of phylogenetic information including molecular analysis, anatomical analysis, shell morphology and shell microstructure, as well as bio-geographic, paleobiogeographical and stratigraphic information.
Pinctada longisquamosa, sometimes called scaly pearl osters, are a small species of pearl oyster found in the western Atlantic. They are distinguished by unique prismatic shell structures which protrude from the outer shell.
Hyotissa semiplana is an extinct species of large saltwater oysters, a fossil marine bivalve mollusk in the family Gryphaeidae, the foam oysters
Rüdiger Bieler is a German-American biologist whose primary scientific field of study is malacology, the study of mollusks.
Cardites floridana, or the Broad-ribbed Carditid, is a marine clam in the family Carditidae. It can be found along the coasts of Florida, Central America, South America and the Gulf of Mexico.
Ennucula aegeensis, commonly known as the Aegean nut clam, is a nut clam present in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Mediterranean.
Elizabeth M. Harper (Liz) is an evolutionary biologist known for her work on molluscs. She is an honorary fellow of the British Antarctic Survey and was accorded the title of Honorary Professor by the University of Cambridge in 2019.
shallow in Mayotte
Deeper
Recently dead specimen
