Kingdom Animalia Order Unionoida Genus Ptychobranchus Rank Species | Phylum Mollusca Family Unionidae Higher classification Ptychobranchus | |
Scientific name Ptychobranchus occidentalis Similar Unionidae, Bivalvia, Neosho mucket, Ellipsaria lineolata, Molluscs | ||
Ptychobranchus occidentalis conglutinates and darter
Ptychobranchus occidentalis is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. It is endemic to the United States, where it is known from Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Its common name is Ouachita kidneyshell.
This mussel packages its larvae, or glochidia, in a membranous conglutinate which resembles a small prey item. When a fish comes to investigate this lure, the glochidia attach to its gills and use it as a host during their development.
References
Ptychobranchus occidentalis Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA