These are common names that are used to describe multiple families of bivalve mollusks and are not particularly useful at a taxonomic or ecological level.

For example, mussels refer to marine bivalves from the family Myltilidae, but it also refers to freshwater bivalves from the family Unionida. Clams can refer to numerous families of burrowing bivalves that are edible. Oysters also refers to multiple families of saltwater bivalves while scallops refer to multiple marine species within the family Pectinidae.