Bivalves use their foot to move from place to place. When their 2 valves close, the water is pushed out of the mantle cavity and the mud starts to loosen. It makes it a lot easier for bivalves to travel. Others have jagged edges on their shells that help to break the mud up. The bivalve species such as the razor clams have a large foot that can dig quickly to move by stretching out their foot. Scallops use jet propulsion to swim by clamping their valves together. Oysters stick onto rocks which are unable to move. Lastly mussels also attach themselves to surfaces using strong threads of organic material. This doesn’t allow them to move but to stay in one spot.

Marine Bivalves produce sperms and eggs of males and females that are released into the water. Fertilization occurs and it forms a trochophore larva developing 2 valves. The offspring then forms into a veliger larva. Veligers swim for two weeks in the sea just until they find a place to attach to, when becoming adults. Whereas the fresh water bivalves such as the female mussels carry their eggs on their gills. The sperm swims into the mantle cavity via the siphon. Then fertilization of the egg occurs. When fertilization is completed the larvae leaves the mantle cavity to become parasites. These parasites make new homes on gills of fishes where they mature into adults. As adults they fall into the mud and sand at the bottom of lakes, rivers and ponds to begin their new life.