Kingdom Animalia Order Unionoida Genus Ptychobranchus Higher classification Ptychobranchus | Phylum Mollusca Family Unionidae Scientific name Ptychobranchus subtentum Rank Species | |
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Similar Unionidae, Actinonaias pectorosa, Cumberlandian combshell, Dromedary naiad, Molluscs | ||
Ptychobranchus subtentum, also known as the Fluted kidneyshell, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
This species is endemic to the drainages of the Cumberland River and the Tennessee River in the United States.
Reproduction
All Unionidae are known to use the gills, fins, or skin of a host fish for nutrients during the larval glochidia stage. Ptychobranchus subtentum enclose their larvae in a membranous capsule that resembles the pupae of black flies. When a fish bites the capsule bait, the Ptychobranchus subtentum larvae are forced out through the mimic capsule's "eyes" and then attach to the gills of the host fish.
References
Ptychobranchus subtentum Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA