>Back in antiquity (1968) R. Tucker Abbott published his Guide to Field
>Identification - SEASHELLS of North America... There are eight
>living classes...
>Pelecypoda (Bivalves)

Bivalvia. Pelecypoda has been out of use for decades.

And one extinct (since the end of the Permian) named class,
Rostroconcha, the possible ancestor of Bivalvia. Early forms such as
Wiwaxia haven't been placed in classes yet to my knowledge, and
problematic forms such as Hyolitha are not by any means certainly
molluscan.

Best be careful when using online sites... there is a lot of
misinformation on the net!

>  How much easier it would be for us
>all if every shell had a little code on it identifying its true name.

Petition your congresscritter... to pass a law requiring every
mollusc to grow a barcode.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
‚ Opinions stated are mine, not those of Otago University
"There is water at the bottom of the ocean"  - Talking Heads

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