Margaritiferidae
Family of bivalves / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Margaritiferidae is a family of medium-sized freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs in the order Unionida.[1][2] It is the most threatened of all unionid families.[3]
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Genera ...
Margaritiferidae | |
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Separated valves of a shell of Margaritifera margaritifera | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Bivalvia |
Order: | Unionida |
Superfamily: | Unionoidea |
Family: | Margaritiferidae Haas, 1940 |
Genera | |
See text for genera |
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The family is sometimes referred to as the freshwater pearl mussel family,[4] but "freshwater pearl mussel" more often applies to the species Margaritifera margaritifera.[5][6][7] The name refers to the thick layer of nacre (mother of pearl) lining the interior of the shell of the species, which enables them to produce pearls.