Malleidae
Encyclopedia
Malleidae, or the hammer oysters, is a family
of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order Pterioida.
The shells of most of them 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 nacre
ous. There is a single, large adductor muscle
. The exhalant current exits at the hinge.
Most hammer oysters live in tropical, coral
line areas.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order Pterioida.
The shells of most of them are T-shaped, with the hinge at the top of the T, and with the byssus
Byssus
Byssus means both a silky filament by which certain molluscs attach themselves to hard surfaces, and a rare fabric, also called sea silk and its fibre source.-Word:...
emrging from the hinge. An oblique ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
holds the hinge. The shell
Exoskeleton
An exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton of, for example, a human. In popular usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of exoskeleton animals include insects such as grasshoppers...
is partially nacre
Nacre
Nacre , also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it is also what makes up pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent....
ous. There is a single, large adductor muscle
Adductor muscle
- Humans :* Adductor muscles of the hip, the most common reference in humans, but may also refer to** Adductor brevis muscle, a muscle in the thigh situated immediately behind the pectineus and adductor longus...
. The exhalant current exits at the hinge.
Most hammer oysters live in tropical, coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
line areas.
Species
- Malleus
- Malleus albus
- Malleus candeanus
- Malleus decurtatus
- Malleus malleus
- Malleus meridianus
- Malleus nuttalli
- Malleus regula
- Malleus rufipunctatus
- Malleus vulgaris