The Dreissenidae are a family of small freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs. They attach themselves to stones or to any other hard surface using a byssus. The shells of these bivalves are shaped somewhat like those of true mussels, and they also attach themselves to a hard substrate using a byssus, however this group is not at all closely related to true mussels, being more closely related to the venus clams (Veneridae).
Ark clam is the common name for a family of small to large-sized saltwater clams or marine bivalve molluscs in the family Arcidae. Ark clams vary both in shape and size. They number about 200 species worldwide.
Palaeoheterodonta is a subterclass of bivalve molluscs. It contains the extant orders Unionida and Trigoniida. They are distinguished by having the two halves of the shell be of equal size and shape, but by having the hinge teeth be in a single row, rather than separated into two groups, as they are in the clams and cockles.
Heteroconchia is a taxonomic infraclass of diverse bivalve molluscs, belonging to the subclass Autobranchia.
Nuculidae is a family of small saltwater clams in the order Nuculida. Species in this family are commonly known as nut clams.
Lampsilis is a genus of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. There are over 100 species in the genus.
Lametilidae is a family of bivalves. The family is related to the nut clams (Nuculidae).
Pristiglomidae is a family of small saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the order Nuculanida.
Nucula certisinus is a saltwater nut clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae.
Nucula dunedinensis is a saltwater nut clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae.
Nucula nitidula is a saltwater nut clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae.
Nucula nitidulaformis is a saltwater nut clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae.
Nucula rossiana is a saltwater nut clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae.
Nucula gallinacea is a saltwater nut clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae.
Nucula atacellana, or the cancellate nut shell clam, is a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from Cape Cod to Virginia.
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.
Nucula tenuis, or the smooth nut clam, is a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Nuculidae. It can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from Labrador to Maryland.
Protobranchia is a subclass of bivalve molluscs. It contains the extant orders Nuculanida, Nuculida, and Solemyida.
Condylonucula maya is a tiny species of saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk or micromollusk in the family Nuculidae, the nut clams. This species grows to a length of about 500 μm (0.020 in) and is believed to be the smallest living bivalve. It is found in shallow waters in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Mexico.
Hinge teeth are part of the anatomical structure of the inner surface of a bivalve shell, i.e. the shell of a bivalve mollusk. Bivalves by definition have two valves, which are joined together by a strong and flexible ligament situated on the hinge line at the dorsal edge of the shell. In life, the shell needs to be able to open slightly to allow the foot and siphons to protrude, and then close again, without the valves moving out of alignment with one another. To make this possible, in most cases the two valves are articulated using an arrangement of structures known as hinge teeth. Like the ligament, the hinge teeth are also situated along the hinge line of the shell, in most cases.
