Bivalves

Giant Clam, Tridacna maxima. © Queensland Museum, Gary Cranitch.

Bivalves are molluscs that have a shell composed of two valves attached by a skin-like ligament and usually interlocking (hinge) teeth. The class includes many commercially significant species and numerous ecologically dominant groups. Many live in the sediments (venus clams and trough shells) and others live on the surface (mussels and oysters). The mantle, lining the inside of the shell, essentially encloses the animal. The head is vestigial and a radula (tongue ribbon) is absent. In most, the gills perform both respiratory and food-gathering roles (filter-feeding). The foot is well developed in burrowers (such as pipis), but poorly developed in attached forms like oysters and swimmers such as scallops. About 350 species have been recorded from Moreton Bay.

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Bivalves

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Name: Cream Wafer Tellin Summary: The Cream Wafer Tellin lives deeply burrowed in shallow subtidal sandy habitats. Found in tropical and subtropical Australia. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Eugarie Summary: The Eugarie (also known as the Common Pipi) is a mollusc that is a very common shell on surf beaches. Dead and broken shells of this species are a common feature on the shoreline. It is found Australia-wide. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Fragile File Clam Summary: File Clams live on the underside of rocks, or under shell rubble in rock pools in the intertidal zone. They filter feed on plankton, and their swimming behaviour undoubtedly helps them evade predators. File Clams occur throughout the Indo-west Pacific. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Gaping Venus Clam Summary: The Gaping Venus Clam is one of the commoner intertidal to shallow subtidal bivalves in southern Queensland. They live buried in sand within a few centimetres of the surface, with only the tips of their siphons projecting.They are found in subtropical and tropical Australia. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Hairy Mussel Summary: The Hairy Mussel occurs abundantly along the eastern and southern coasts of Australia as far south as Tasmania, particularly in estuarine localities. Shells of living animals are covered in short bristles. They occur in eastern and southern Australia. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Mud Ark Summary: The Mud Ark is one of the most abundant bivalve molluscs on the mud- and sand-flats of eastern and southern Australia. They are common components of aboriginal shell middens. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Penguin Wing Oyster Summary: The Penguin Wing Oyster is the largest member of its genus, growing to over 200 mm and characterised by a black shell exterior and a very long extension of the hinge. The Penguin Wing Oyster lives in shallow water to depths of up to 20 m. It is found in subtropical and tropical Australia. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Scaly Scallop Summary: The Scaly Scallop, as its common name implies, is sculptured with numerous, short vertical scales. The species grows to 60-70 mm and is fished commercially in southern Australian states. It is widespread along the Australian coast. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Strawberry Cockle Summary: The Strawberry Cockle is creamy white with strawberry-red scales and has a solid, strongly ribbed shell. Like many other bivalves, it feeds by using a siphon to draw in water and pass it to the gills. Strawberry Cockles are common in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones throughout the Indo-West Pacific. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: Sydney Rock Oyster Summary: The Sydney Rock Oyster is the most ecologically and commercially important species of the oyster family from Australian waters. It is found along the east coast of Australia, and New Zealand. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Name: White Hammer Oyster Summary: The White Hammer Oyster is one of the most unusual types of marine bivalve molluscs and easily recognised by its greatly elongate hinge extensions (recalling a hammer shape) and somewhat corrugated valves. It is found in subtropical and tropical Australia. Subject categories: Molluscs, Bivalves See full details

Bivalves

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