Malleidae

Hammer oyster
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Subclass:	Pteriomorphia
Order:	Pterioida
Superfamily:	Pterioidea
Family:	Malleidae
Genera
See text.

External identifiers for Malleidae
WoRMS	23067

See text.

Malleidae, or the hammer oysters, is a family of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order Pterioida and the superfamily Pterioidea.

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.

The following genera have been brought into synonymy.

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