Malleidae, or hammer oysters, is a family of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order PteriidaGofas, 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 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.
Genera Malleus Lamarck, 1799 Neoaviculovulsa Okutani & Kusakari, 1987 Vulsella
The following genera have been brought into synonymy. Brevimalleus McLean, 1947 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799 Fundella Gregorio, 1884 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799 Himantopoda Schumacher, 1817 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799 Malleolus Rafinesque, 1815 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799 Malvufundus de Gregorio, 1885 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799 Parimalleus Iredale, 1931 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799 Tudes Oken, 1815 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799
References
External links POPPE images of various Malleidae species