Freshwater bivalves are one kind of freshwater molluscs. They are bivalves which live in freshwater, as opposed to saltwater. Although the majority of species of bivalve molluscs live in the sea, a number of different families of bivalves live in freshwater (and in some cases also in brackish water). These families belong to two different evolutionary lineages (freshwater mussels and freshwater clams), and the two groups are not closely related.
The two groups of bivalves live in many types of freshwater habitat, ranging from small ditches and ponds, to lakes, canals, and rivers.
Species in the two groups vary greatly in size. Some of the pea clams (Pisidium species) have an adult size of only 3 mm. On the other hand, one of the largest species of freshwater bivalves is the swan mussel, in the family Unionidae; it can grow to a length of 20 cm, and usually lives in lakes or slow rivers.
Freshwater pearl mussels are economically important as a source of freshwaterpearls and mother of pearl.
The Unionoida, of worldwide distribution, are the pearly freshwater mussels. All reproduce by means of a larval stage that is parasitic on fish. Many species are utilized as sources of mother-of-pearl.
The Veneroida is a large group of bivalve "clams", most of which are marine. However, several families occur in fresh and brackish waters.