Rank Family Subclass Palaeoheterodonta | Scientific name Margaritiferidae Higher classification Unionoida Order Unionoida | |
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Lower classifications Freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera, Spectacle case pearly mussel | ||
Margaritiferidae is a family of medium-sized freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs in the order Unionoida. They are known as freshwater pearl mussels, because the interior of the shell of these species has a thick layer of nacre or mother of pearl, and the mussels are thus capable of producing pearls.
Genera
Genera within the family Margaritiferidae include:
References
Margaritiferidae Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA