Margaritiferidae

Margaritiferidae is a family of medium-sized freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs in the order Unionida.[1][2] They are known as freshwater pearl mussels, because the interior of the shell of these species has a thick layer of nacre or mother of pearl, and the mussels are thus capable of producing pearls.

Margaritiferidae
Separated valves of a shell of Margaritifera margaritifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Unionida
Superfamily: Unionoidea
Family: Margaritiferidae
Haas, 1940
Genera

8, See text for genera

Genera

Genera within the family Margaritiferidae include:

  • Cumberlandia Ortmann, 1912
  • Gibbosula Simpson, 1900
  • Margaritifera Schumacher, 1815
  • Pseudunio Haas, 1910
  • Ptychorhynchus Simpson, 1900
  • Shepmania

References

  1. Margaritiferidae. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 4 January 2012.
  2. Huber, Markus (2010). Compendium of Bivalves. A Full-color Guide to 3'300 of the World's Marine Bivalves. A Status on Bivalvia after 250 Years of Research. Hackenheim: ConchBooks. pp. 901 pp. + CD. ISBN 978-3-939767-28-2.
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