Ptychobranchus occidentalis is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. It is endemic to the United States,[1] where it is known from Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Its common name is Ouachita kidneyshell.[2]
| Ptychobranchus occidentalis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Unionida |
| Family: | Unionidae |
| Genus: | Ptychobranchus |
| Species: | P. occidentalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ptychobranchus occidentalis (Conrad, 1836)
| |
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.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b Bogan, A.E. (1996). "Ptychobranchus occidentalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T18827A8645284. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T18827A8645284.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Ptychobranchus occidentalis. NatureServe. 2012.
- ^ Orangethroat darter (Etheostoma spectabile) with the conglutinates of Ouachita kidneyshell, (Ptychobranchus occidentalis). Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society.
 | This Unionidae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |