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| Exploded view of two halves of a bivalve shell. The right and left pairs of red colored triple bands represent, respectively, the anterior and posterior adductor muscles that pull the shell closed. The hinge shows three interlocking teeth that stabilize the shell. Gray bands behind the hinge denote the chitinous, elastic hinge that would keep the shell partly open. Not shown is another chitinous band in front of the teeth, which stabilizes the hinge. |
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Archerd Shell Collection
> Shell Classes > Bivalvia > Hinge Mechanics