Pyganodon lacustris is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. It is endemic to the United States, where it is known to occur in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Indiana and Wisconsin. It may also occur in the Great Lakes and into Canada, however its full range has not been fully assessed.[1] It is commonly called the lake floater.[2]

Pyganodon lacustris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Unionida
Family: Unionidae
Genus: Pyganodon
Species:
P. lacustris
Binomial name
Pyganodon lacustris
(Lea, 1857)

Description edit

Pyganodon lacustris varies in size with the largest found to be around 20 centimeters (8 inches)[3] with an average of around 10 centimeters (4 inches). They have an elliptical shape and is generally long and thin. The ventral is straight to slightly curved and color ranges from yellow-green in adolescence to dark brown or black in adulthood.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Pyganodon lacustris". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  2. ^ "Lake Floater (Pyganodon lacustris)". dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  3. ^ "Pyganodon lacustris". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  4. ^ "Pyganodon lacustris (Lake floater) - MNFI Rare Species Explorer". mnfi.anr.msu.edu. Retrieved 2017-09-22.