Which term includes clams and oysters with two hinged shells?

Which term includes clams and oysters with two hinged shells?

• A. Cephalopods
• B. Mollusk
• C. Bivalve
• D. Gastropod

Answer: (C)

Two hinged shells point to a group called bivalves. Bivalves are a class of mollusks defined by having two shells (valves) hinged together, which clams and oysters fit perfectly. This two-shell design helps them protect their soft bodies and filter feed from the water. Other groups—gastropods like snails and slugs—usually have a single shell (or none), and cephalopods like octopuses and squids have different body plans and shells or no shell at all. While mollusks is the broader phylum that includes these animals, the specific term for two-shelled clams and oysters is bivalve.

Two hinged shells point to a group called bivalves. Bivalves are a class of mollusks defined by having two shells (valves) hinged together, which clams and oysters fit perfectly. This two-shell design helps them protect their soft bodies and filter feed from the water. Other groups—gastropods like snails and slugs—usually have a single shell (or none), and cephalopods like octopuses and squids have different body plans and shells or no shell at all. While mollusks is the broader phylum that includes these animals, the specific term for two-shelled clams and oysters is bivalve.