title: Malleidae
text: # Malleidae
  
  Malleidae, or hammer oysters, is a family of saltwater clams. They are related to the pearl oysters, in the order Pteriida 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.
  
  ## Genera
  
  * Malleus Lamarck, 1799
  * Neoaviculovulsa Okutani & Kusakari, 1987
  * Vulsella
  
  The following genera have been brought into synonymy.
  
  * Brevimalleus McLean, 1947 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799
  * Fundella Gregorio, 1884 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799
  * Himantopoda Schumacher, 1817 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799
  * Malleolus Rafinesque, 1815 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799
  * Malvufundus de Gregorio, 1885 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799
  * Parimalleus Iredale, 1931 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799
  * Tudes Oken, 1815 accepted as Malleus Lamarck, 1799
  