Divales

Divales refers to a former taxonomic order within the class Bivalvia (also known as Pelecypoda), more commonly known as bivalves. This grouping included bivalve mollusks characterized by having two hinged shells, usually of similar size, and typically living attached to a substrate or burrowing into sediments.

The term "Divales" is largely obsolete in modern bivalve classification. Current taxonomic classification relies heavily on molecular phylogenetics and morphological analyses, leading to revisions in the traditional ordering of bivalves. Many species previously classified under the order Divales are now distributed across various other taxonomic orders within the Bivalvia class.

Historically, the order Divales, in its broader sense, encompassed a significant portion of bivalves. However, updated classifications now recognize more refined distinctions based on features like gill structure, hinge dentition, adductor muscle arrangement, and other anatomical characteristics, in addition to genetic relationships. These distinctions have resulted in the dismantling of the Divales order into several more specific and phylogenetically supported lineages. Therefore, using the term "Divales" today would lack the precision and accuracy expected in contemporary malacological studies and classifications.