Malleidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hammer oyster

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Pterioida
Family:	Malleidae

Genera

See text.

Malleidae, or the hammer oysters, is a family of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order Pterioida.

They are T-shaped, with the hinge at the top of the T, and with the byssus emrging 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.

[edit] Species

Malleus
- Malleus albus
- Malleus candeanus
- Malleus decurtatus
- Malleus malleus
- Malleus meridianus
- Malleus nuttalli
- Malleus regula
- Malleus rufipunctatus
- Malleus vulgaris