What is a "bivalve"?

A bivalve is a type of mollusk characterized by its two-part hinged shell. They include familiar marine and freshwater organisms such as clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. Bivalves are filter feeders, using their specialized gills to extract food particles from the water. They are known for their ability to burrow into sediments or attach themselves to hard surfaces using strong byssal threads. Bivalves are important ecological contributors, playing a role in nutrient cycling, sediment stabilization, and providing habitat for other organisms. They are also commercially valuable as a food source and in aquaculture industries.