Sealife guideBivalves: shellfish wonders of the oceanThe marine mollusks

Last updated on 09/02/2025 at 12:22 AM
The class of bivalves is characterized by a shell composed of two parts, called valves, which are hinged and more or less symmetrical.
The noble pen shell is a type of bivalve
The noble pen shell is a type of bivalve
The most well-known bivalves include oysters, mussels, scallops and clams.
Bivalves have a calcium carbonate shell equipped with strong muscles that can close the two valves tightly in response to external threats.
Bivalves feed by filtering water through their gills. The water current is generated by the action of tiny cilia.
Discover marine bivalves
Giant rock scallop (Crassadoma gigantea)
Giant rock scallop
(Crassadoma gigantea)
Great atlantic scallop (Pecten maximus)
Great atlantic scallop
(Pecten maximus)
Noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis)
Noble pen shell
(Pinna nobilis)
Spiny pink scallop (Chlamys hastata)
Spiny pink scallop
(Chlamys hastata)
Discover marine mollusks
Adorned stiliger (Stiliger ornatus)
Adorned stiliger
(Stiliger ornatus)
Candy halgerda (Halgerda bacalusia)
Candy halgerda
(Halgerda bacalusia)
Chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius)
Chambered nautilus
(Nautilus pompilius)
Glossodoris cincta nudibranch (Glossodoris cincta)
Glossodoris cincta nudibranch
(Glossodoris cincta)
Hooded nudibranch (Melibe leonina)
Hooded nudibranch
(Melibe leonina)
Leech sea slug (Chelidonura hirundinina)
Leech sea slug
(Chelidonura hirundinina)
Red-lined flabellina (Coryphellina rubrolineata)
Red-lined flabellina
(Coryphellina rubrolineata)
Tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigris)
Tiger cowrie
(Cypraea tigris)

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