Kingdom Animalia Order Unionoida Tribe Lampsilini Higher classification Unionidae | Phylum Mollusca Family Unionidae Scientific name Ptychobranchus Rank Genus | |
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Lower classifications Ptychobranchus fasciolaris, Ptychobranchus subtentum, Triangular kidneyshell, Ptychobranchus occidentalis, Southern kidneyshell | ||
Ptychobranchus occidentalis conglutinates and darter
Ptychobranchus is a genus of freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae.
Species of this genus package their larvae, known as glochidia, in conglutinates that resemble prey items such as fish fry. As fish come to investigate these lures there is a better chance the glochidia will contact them, attach, and use them as hosts during development.
Species include:
References
Ptychobranchus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA