Works on pinnids in the last 60 years, especially in the Indo-Pacific, proved inadequate to reflect reality.Globally, 55 instead of the usually accepted 21 pinnids are herein recognized. Two further species may prove valid, Atrina sp. from Chile and A. kinoshitai Habe, 1953 from Japan. Information on the evolution, morphology habitat, biology and special characteristics of pinnids are provided. A total of 55 species of the worldwide Recent Pinnidae are characterized and some common European fossils are illustrated. Many species are reinstated. Three new species are described: an Indo-Pacific Pinna (Cyrtopinna), an Indo-Pacific Atrina (Servatrina), and an West African Atrina (Servatrina). The assessment of the morphology of the shell was based mostly on type material that was compared with many other specimens in a varity of public and private collections. The distribution and habitats are included to fully document all species.