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Bivalves are the sea shells which are commonly washed up on the beach nowadays,
including cockles, mussels and oysters. The two valves are held together by a ligament
which soon rots when the animal dies - the valves are often found singly, exposing the
internal morphological features. The valves are usually the same size and shape - equivalve.
Bivalves occupy a wide variety of habitats, from rocky ledges to borings in the hulls of wooden ships,
and include freshwater varieties.
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Bivalves are found throughout the Phanerozoic, steadily increasing in numbers up to the present time, perhaps
taking over many of the ecological niches previously exploited by the Brachiopods.
Geopix Study Guide "Bivalves"
- gives an illustrated description of bivalves;
- describes the main morphological features;
- explains how the shape of the shell is related to the mode of life.
The Study Guide contains the following pages:
'Bivalves' is part of the Geopix Fossils Study Guide CD.
To order this CD go to the Geopix Online Store
