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Bivalve Genera Key
Mytilidae
(1a) If the umbones are located on the anterior end of the shell and form a “beak”..... Mytilus trossulus
(1b) If the umbones are near, but not directly on, the anterior end of the shell and both ends are rounded….. Modiolus modiolus
Ostreidae
(1a)If the oyster has prominent fluting and its length
reaches up to 25 cm…...
Crassostrea
gigas
(1b) If the oyster lacks fluting, is grayish in overall
color and no more than 5 cm in length…...
Ostreola
conchaphila
Anomiidae
(1) .....
Pododesmus
cepio
Cardiidae
(1) .....
Clinocardium
nuttallii
Mactridae
(1) ..... Tresus
capax
Tellinidae
(1a)If the animal’s ligament is wide but no longer than
one quarter the length of the posterior slope of the shell…..
Macoma
secta
(1b) Ligament not as described above….. 2
(2a) If there is a noticeable bend to the right in the shell’s posterior end….. Macoma nasuta
(2b) If the valves lack the right bend as described in 2a….. Macoma inquinata
Veneridae
(1a) If the shell has prominent radial ribs but does not
gape appreciably…... 2
(1b) If the shell lacks radial ribs but does have concentric sculpture and gapes slightly at the posterior end….. Saxidomus giganteus
(2a) Are the radial ribs more noticeable than the concentric rings and is the hinge ligament approximately 1/3
the length of the entire shell….. 3
(2b) If the shell has both concentric sculpture and radial ribbing but the concentric sculpture is more prominent and the hinge ligament is approximately half the length of the shell….. Protothaca tenerrima
(3a)If the shell interior is entirely white….. Protothaca staminea
(3b) If the interior of the shell is yellowish with a prominent purplish stain at the posterior end….. Tapes philippinarum
Myidae
(1) ......
Mya arenaria
Hitellidae
(1) .....
Panope
abrupta
Teredinidae
(1) .....
Bankia
setacea
