Kingdom Animalia Order Unionoida Genus Simpsonaias Higher classification Simpsonaias | Phylum Mollusca Family Unionidae Scientific name Simpsonaias ambigua Rank Species | |
Similar Villosa fabalis, Epioblasma triquetra, Northern riffleshell, Alasmidonta viridis, Unionidae | ||
Simpsonaias ambigua, the salamander mussel, Mudpuppy Mussel, is a species of bivalve in the Unionidae family. It is unique among freshwater mussels in using mudpuppies as its glochidial host. It is the only freshwater mussel known to have a non-fish host.
Distribution and conservation status
It is native to the United States and Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Species at Risk Act listed it in the List of Wildlife Species at Risk as being endangered in Canada.
References
Salamander mussel Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA