Bivalves filter large amounts of water to feed and breathe but they are not permanently open. They regularly shut their valves to enter a resting state, even when they are permanently submerged.

bivalve, (class Bivalvia), any of more than 15,000 species of clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, and other members of the phylum Mollusca characterized by a shell that is divided from front to back into …

Dec 5, 2025 · Bivalves are a group of freshwater and marine mollusks with bilaterally symmetric and laterally compressed bodies encased in a characteristic two-part shell. They belong to the class …

Jun 16, 2024 · As filter feeders, bivalves gather food through their gills. Some bivalves have a pointed, retractable "foot" that protrudes from the shell and digs into the surrounding sediment, effectively …

Bivalves are a diverse group of mollusks that includes clams, oysters, scallops, and mussels. They have two shells and live in both freshwater and saltwater all over the world. Bivalves are important to their …

Nov 24, 2025 · Bivalves are classified within the phylum Mollusca, but they are distinguished by the lack of a defined head and the rasping tongue-like organ called a radula. Their protective exoskeleton is …

Jan 26, 2001 · Also known as pelecypods, the approximately 15,000 species of this taxon are found in marine and freshwater habitats throughout the world. A bivalve is characterized by possessing two …