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| Hammer oyster | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Pteriida |
| Superfamily: | Pterioidea |
| Family: | Malleidae |
| Genera | |
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See text | |
Malleidae, or hammer oysters, is a family of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order Pteriida[1] and the superfamily Pterioidea. There are about 22 species in this family.
The shells of most of these animals are T-shaped, with the hinge along the top of the T, and with the byssus emerging from the hinge. An oblique ligament holds the hinge. The shell is partially nacreous. There is a single, large adductor muscle. The exhalant current exits at the hinge.
Most hammer oysters live in tropical, coralline areas.
- ^ Gofas, S. (2011). Malleidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=23067 on 2012-01-02