Bivalves are extremely numerous and varied and there are about 8000 species, mostly in the sea but some in fresh water. Typically the shell is in two pieces with a hinge and closed by strong muscles. Siphons draw water into the large mantle both for respiration and feeding. The class includes clams, mussels, cockles, scallops and oysters.
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Sites 23
- Freshwater Mussel Genera of the World Illustrations and information about the various groups.
- Swan Mussel Larvae Article by Mike Samworth on the reproduction of these bivalves and a link between them and the bitterling, a freshwater fish.
- Teredo navalis: Naval Shipworm Photographs and information on this species, including its taxonomy, description, habitat, distribution, life history, population biology, physical tolerances, community ecology and invasion information.
- Mytella charruana: Charru Mussel Photographs and information on this species, including its taxonomy, description, habitat, distribution, life history, population biology, physical tolerances, community ecology and invasion information.
- Perna viridis: Asian Green Mussel Photographs and information on this species, including its taxonomy, description, habitat, distribution, life history, population biology, physical tolerances, community ecology and invasion information.
- Argopecten gibbus: Callico Scallop Photographs and information on this species, including its taxonomy, description, habitat, distribution, life history, population biology, physical tolerances, community ecology and special status.
- Cyrtopleura costata: Angelwing Clam Photographs and information on this species, including its taxonomy, description, habitat, distribution, life history, population biology, physical tolerances, community ecology and special status.
- Mercenaria mercenaria: Hard Clam Photographs and information on this species, including its taxonomy, description, habitat, distribution, life history, population biology, physical tolerances, community ecology and special status.
- Ribbed Mussels: Geukensia demissa Ecology and life history, feeding biology, shell growth, dispersal, survivorship, reproduction, taxonomy, distribution and importance.
- Unio Gallery Photographs and videos of freshwater pearly mussels (unionoids) of North America.
- Tennessee Freshwater Mussels McClung Museum virtual exhibit that explores the biology and history of these bivalves.
- Oyster Reefs News and information about oysters in the Chesapeake Bay region.
- Eastern Lamp Mussel: Lampsilis radiata Photographs and information on this freshwater species.
- Zebra Mussel: Dreissena polymorpha Student project with classification, habitat, adaptation, nutrition, reproduction and interactions with other species.
- The Pink Mucket: Lampsilis abrupta Student project including classification, habitat, adaptation, nutrition, reproduction and interactions with other species.
- Giant Clam: Tridacna gigas Photographs and information from ARKive including classification, status, description, range, habitat, biology, threats and conservation.
- Southern Giant Clam: Tridacna derasa Photographs and information from ARKive including classification, status, description, range, habitat, biology, threats and conservation.
- Common Cockle: Cerastoderma edule Photographs and information from ARKive including classification, status, description, range, habitat, biology, threats and conservation.
- Razor Shell: Ensis ensis Photographs and information from ARKive including classification, status, description, range, habitat, biology, threats and conservation.
- Small Giant Clam: Tridacna maxima Photographs and information from ARKive including classification, status, description, range, habitat, biology, threats and conservation.
- Dreissena rostriformis bugensis Factsheet on the Quagga Mussel, with photographs, range map, and much information on the status of this introduced species.
- Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest Online version of book of the same name, published by the Illinois Natural History Survey.
- Dreissena polymorpha Factsheet on the Zebra Mussel, with photographs, range map, and much information on the status of this introduced species.