Search the Dictionary

Any one of many species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Mytilus, and related genera, of the family Mytidæ. The common mussel (Mytilus edulis; see Illust. under Byssus), and the larger, or horse, mussel (Modiola modiolus), inhabiting the shores both of Europe and America, are edible. The former is extensively used…

A genus of bivalve mollusks, including the common long, or soft-shelled, clam.

A division of bivalve mollusks of which the common clam (Mya) is the type.

A genus of marine bivalve shells, including the common mussel. See Illust. under Byssus.

Any species of a tribe (Naiades) of freshwater bivalves, including Unio, Anodonta, and numerous allied genera; a river mussel.

The umbones of a bivalve shell.

riarch of Biblical history, in the time of the Deluge. Noah's ark. (a) (Zoöl.) A marine bivalve shell (Arca Noæ), which somewhat resembles an ark, or ship, in form. (b) A child's toy, consisting of an ark-shaped box containing many different wooden animals.

The tip, or earliest part, of a univalve or bivalve shell.

A genus of small marine bivalve shells, having a pearly interior.

A special structure found in the mouth of most mollusks, except bivalves. It consists of several muscles and a cartilage which supports a chitinous radula, or lingual ribbon, armed with teeth. Also applied to the radula alone. See Radula.

t performing an essential office in the working of any complex machine; as, the cylinder, valves, crank, etc., are organs of the steam engine.

A division of bivalve mollusks including the oysters and allied shells.

Any one of a family of bivalves, of which the oyster is the type.

An order of Entomostraca possessing hard bivalve shells. They are of small size, and swim freely about. [Written also Ostracoda.]

A genus of bivalve Mollusca which includes the true oysters.

ers. -- Otter sheep. See Ancon sheep, under Ancon. -- Otter shell (Zoöl.), very large bivalve mollusk (Schizothærus Nuttallii) found on the northwest coast of America. It is excellent food, and is extensively used by the Indians. -- Sea otter. (Zoöl.) See in the Vocabulary.

Any marine bivalve mollusk of the genus Ostrea. They are usually found adhering to rocks or other fixed objects in shallow water along the seacoasts, or in brackish water in the mouth of rivers. The common European oyster (Ostrea edulis), and the American oyster (Ostrea Virginiana), are the most important species.…

In the organ, a valve between the wind chest and the mouth of a pipe or row of pipes.

line, or impression, which marks the attachment of the mantle on the inner surface of a bivalve shell. See Illust. of Bivalve. Pallial chamber (Zoöl.), the cavity inclosed by the mantle. -- Pallial sinus (Zoöl.), an inward bending of the pallial line, near the posterior end of certain bivalve shells, to receive the si…

The mantle of a bivalve. See Mantle.