406 rilYI.UM MOLLUSC A. 



Class IV. LAMELLIBRANCHIATA or BIVALVES. 



(Synonyms Acephala, Conchifera, Pelecypoda, 

 Lipocephala, etc.) 



Examples. Cockles, Mussels, Clams, and Oysters. 



Lamellibranchs are bilaterally symmetrical Molluscs, in 

 which the body is compressed from side to side and the foot 

 more or less ploughshare-like. The head (or prostomium) 

 region remains undeveloped, and without tentacles ; radula, 

 horny jaws, and salivary glands are absent, but there is a 

 pair of labial palps on each side of the mouth. The mantle 

 skirt is divided into two flaps, which secrete the two valves of 

 the shell, now lateral instead of dorsal in position. The 

 valves are imited by a dorsal elastic ligament, and closed by 

 two transverse adductor muscles or by one. Internal bilateral 

 symmetry is marked by the paired nature and disposition of 

 the nephridia, auricles, gills, digestive gland, and reproductive 

 organs. The gills (ctenidia) consist of numerous gill filaments, 

 which typically grow together into large plates (hence the title 

 Lamellibrancli}. There are usually three pairs of ganglia : 

 (a) cerebro-pleurals in the head ; (b) pedals in the foot ; (c) 

 viscerals at the posterior end of the body. The heart consists 

 of a ventricle and two auricles, and is surrounded by a 

 pericardium which is ccelomic in origin, and communicates 

 with the exterior by means of the two nephridia. Repro- 

 ductive organs are alwavs simple, and the sexes are usually 

 separate. The typical development includes trochosphere and 

 veliger stages. Most Lamellibranchs feed on microscopic 

 organisms and particles ; the distribution is very wide, both 

 in salt and fresh water ; the general habit is sedentary or 

 sluggish. 



Classification. The best classification of Lamellibranchs seems to 

 be that of Pelseneer, which is based on the structure of the gills. 



Order i. PROTOBRANCHIA. There are two simple posterior gills, 

 quite similar to those of Zeugobranchs ; the foot has a flattened creeping 

 surface ; the pleural and cerebral ganglia are distinct, e.g. Nitcitla, 

 Solenomya. 



Order 2. FiLiBRANCHJA. The gill filaments are greatly elongated 

 and reflected, so that they consist of an ascending and a descending limb, 

 e.g. Area (Noah's-ark shell), Mytilns (edible mussel), Modiola (horse- 

 mussel). 



