Kingdom Animalia Subclass Pteriomorphia Superfamily Pterioidea Higher classification Pterioida | Phylum Mollusca Order Pterioida Scientific name Malleidae Rank Family | |
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Similar Bivalvia, Molluscs, Noetiidae, Mesodesmatidae, Limopsidae | ||
Malleidae, or the hammer oysters, is a family of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order Pterioida and the superfamily Pterioidea.
The shells of most of these animals are T-shaped, with the hinge along the top of the T, and with the byssus emerging from the hinge. An oblique ligament holds the hinge. The shell is partially nacreous. There is a single, large adductor muscle. The exhalant current exits at the hinge.
Most hammer oysters live in tropical, coralline areas.
Genera
The following genera have been brought into synonymy.
References
Malleidae Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA