This is a WikiProject, an open group of Wikipedia editors. New participants are welcome; feel free to talk to us! This Project is currently being revived!
as of 15 July 2026, the project is undergoing revival
Bivalves in mythology: The goddess of love floats to shore on one valve of a scallop shell, in The Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli c. 1485–1486.
As of July 20 2026, Molluscabase lists 28,120 valid Bivalve species. If we counted every bivalve related article as a species, Wikipedia would only have a 13% coverage of bivalve species. The missing articles would comprise over 0.3% of English Wikipedia. Of that, only one article is featured, and the vast majority are rated (sometimes erroneously) NA or stub class. That would be a 3% coverage of bivalves overall, of what should be just under 0.4% of English Wikipedia.
WikiProject Bivalves is a group of people who are working on organizing, improving and expanding Wikipedia's coverage of topics that relate to bivalvemollusks: clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, shipworms, and all of their relatives with two hinged shells, both living and fossil. Bivalves occur not only in saltwater, but also in brackish water and extensively in freshwater. The project also covers articles on topics related to bivalves, such as articles on their anatomical features and articles about malacologists who do research or did research on bivalve taxonomy. Articles related to human bivalve interaction and major figures within the topic are also within the scope of the project (eg. oyster smugglers and prominent pearl traders)
Everyone is welcome to join this endeavor.
This project was started on 1 January 2012, and revived 15 June 2026
Essential Stats
Hot articles
These are the articles that have been edited the most within the last seven days. Last updated 14 August 2026.
This table is generated by querying the database replica and is periodically updated by a bot. Edits made within the table area will be removed on the next update!
All species and higher are notable per WP:NSPECIES. You must be able to verify it is valid (MolluscaBase is a great way to do this). Do not create redirects from species to genus unless that genus is monotypic. Leave those as redlinks, they show what needs to be expanded.
Names and titles
The names of mollusks in general do not follow the Bird article guidelines. It may perhaps be appropriate to follow the guidelines developed by the gastropod project. Basically articles on taxa should use the scientific name as the title, unless there is a very widely used common name that is very well known and unambiguous. Common names use sentence case, for example "Atlantic bay scallop".
Article contents
The following items are desirable for articles of all levels. Text should flow in continuous prose as much as possible.
Classification – This is usually made clear using the taxobox information.
Description (physical, behavioral) – what makes this (group of) creature(s) different from its close relatives?
Ecology, including range and habitat – where does it live? Distribution maps are helpful. Also what does it eat? What animals prey on it? Does it have parasites?
Cultural, religious, economic, importance – what impact has it had on humans? Include here use for experimental scientific purposes.
Task list and progress
Decide which taxonomic system will work for both living and fossil families
Decide on what are the one or two or three most reliable sources we should use for taxonomy and nomenclature Y
Create article for each of the highest-level taxa
Create article for each taxonomic family
Ensure all family articles are taxonomically consistent
Ensure all articles between the Order and Family rank are taxonomically consistent
Ensure that all articles between the rank of family and genus rank are taxonomically consistent
Create articles for all species and for needed genera
Create links for all species articles within the appropriate articles
Please feel free to check each one of these off as "done" when you feel it has been adequately completed.
For consistency, all taxonomy articles should start with a sentence in easily understood language describing the group (or species), and if the article is on a marine bivalve, it should have a reference to that taxon at the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), or another equally reliable source. We should try to ensure that the taxonomy in the taxoboxes is consistent throughout the class, and follows from the outline on Bivalvia.
Back when the project started, it was decided that the taxonomy of the Bivalvia should rely on Bieler, R., Carter, J.G. & Coan, E.V. (2010) Classification of Bivalve families. Pp. 113–133, in: Bouchet, P. & Rocroi, J.P. (2010), Nomenchttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:WikiProject_Bivalves&action=edit§ion=9#lator of Bivalve Families. Malacologia 52(2): 1–184, which can be found at: Philippe Bouchet & Jean-Pierre Rocroi Rüdiger Bieler Joseph G. Carter Eugene V. Coan. 2010: Nomenclator of bivalve families with a classification of bivalve families. Malacologia 52: 4–112. However now we are in 2014, the taxonomy as expressed in WoRMS has diverged from that in Bieler et al. As of June 2014, it has not yet been decided what to do about this.
As of July 2026, the most up to date classification data is available on Molluscabase.
Article templates
Taxobox: All articles that are about one bivalve taxon need a taxobox (or automatic taxobox/speciesbox). This is something we have inherited from the Tree of Life WikiProject. Read more about the automatic taxobox system at WP:Automated taxobox system.
WikiProject Assessment: Please place the following template at the top of every bivalve article's talk pages:
This will help to direct editors to this page for guidance. More information about class and importance parameters can be found at WP:WikiProject Animals/Assessment.
Stubs: Please mark stub articles with the template below.
Bivalve anatomy navigation: Please add any new bivalve anatomy articles to this template as needed, and please add this template to any appropriate articles:
I've noticed your edits on pages relating to Bivalves; perhaps you'd be interested in joining WikiProject Bivalves. If you would like more information please visit the project page.
{{The Bivalvia Barnstar|put your message here ~~~~}}—an award placed at another users talk page for improving Bivalvia-related articles.
The Bivalvia Barnstar
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Mollusk barnstar
{{Malacology barnstar}} is awarded to recognize great devotion in the creation and maintenance of high quality articles related to members of the phylum Mollusca. Use {{subst:Malacology barnstar|message ~~~~}} to award this barnstar.
Malacology barnstar
Awarded to recognize great devotion in the creation and maintenance of high quality articles related to members of the phylum Mollusca. Thank you!
Bivalve barnstar
{{Bivalve Barnstar}} is awarded to recognize great devotion in the creation and maintenance of high quality bivalve articles. Use {{subst:Bivalve Barnstar|message ~~~~}} to award this barnstar.
WikiProject Bivalves Barnstar
This spiny Spondylus Barnstar is awarded to you in recognition of your excellent articles on the subject of bivalve mollusks. Your efforts are much appreciated!
Bivalves
Bivalvia
