| Echyridella aucklandica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Unionida |
| Family: | Unionidae |
| Genus: | Echyridella |
| Species: | E. aucklandica |
| Binomial name | |
| Echyridella aucklandica (Gray, 1843) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Echyridella aucklandica is a species of freshwater mussel endemic to New Zealand. E. aucklandica is an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
Echyridella aucklandica was first described by John Edward Gray in 1843 and given the name Unio aucklandicus. [2] It was described again by American malacologist Charles Torrey Simpson in 1902, who used the name Diplodon websteri. [3] Simpson's original text (the type description) reads as follows:
Diplodon websteri Simpson.
Shell long, rhomboid, compressed or subcompressed, inequilateral; beaks subcompressed, pointed, their sculpture apparently a few irregular lachrymose nodules arranged in a somewhat radial pattern; surface with uneven growth lines and impressed rest marks, sculptured throughout with lachrymose nodules which are often V-shaped, those along the upper part of the low posterior ridge slightly knobbed; epidermis dark olive green, clouded with lighter green, rather dull; pseudo-cardinals small, subcompressed, granulose, two in each valve ; laterals straight, two in the left valve, one in the right; muscle scars small, shallow and irregular; nacre bluish,
lurid purple near and in the beak cavities, thicker in front.
The length of the shell is 62–81 mm. The height of the shell is 32–39 mm. The width of the shell is 14–20 mm. [3] [4]
Echyridella aucklandica is found in two separate locations, Southland and the lower North Island. This broken distribution may have come about due to transportation by Māori. [5] It inhabits lakes and streams. [4]
Like other unionids, E. aucklandica has a complex life-cycle characterised by a parasitic larval stage called glochidia that require a fish host to metamorphose into juveniles [6] . Echyridella aucklandica glochidia attach themselves exclusively to the New Zealand smelt, unlike the more common Echyridella menziesii , which generalises to many different host species. [7] [6]
Mussel is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.
Bivalvia, in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class of marine and freshwater molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts. As a group, bivalves have no head and they lack some usual molluscan organs, like the radula and the odontophore. The class includes the clams, oysters, cockles, mussels, scallops, and numerous other families that live in saltwater, as well as a number of families that live in freshwater. The majority are filter feeders. The gills have evolved into ctenidia, specialised organs for feeding and breathing. Most bivalves bury themselves in sediment, where they are relatively safe from predation. Others lie on the sea floor or attach themselves to rocks or other hard surfaces. Some bivalves, such as the scallops and file shells, can swim. Shipworms bore into wood, clay, or stone and live inside these substances.
The dwarf wedgemussel is an endangered species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
Echyridella menziesii, the New Zealand freshwater mussel, also known by its Māori names kākahi, kāeo, and torewai, is a species of freshwater mussel endemic to New Zealand. E. menziesii is an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
The Unionidae are a family of freshwater mussels, the largest in the order Unionida, the bivalve molluscs sometimes known as river mussels, or simply as unionids.
Unionida is a monophyletic order of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs. The order includes most of the larger freshwater mussels, including the freshwater pearl mussels. The most common families are the Unionidae and the Margaritiferidae. All have in common a larval stage that is temporarily parasitic on fish, nacreous shells, high in organic matter, that may crack upon drying out, and siphons too short to permit the animal to live deeply buried in sediment.
Diplodon is a genus of freshwater pearly mussel, an aquatic bivalve in the Hyriidae family.
The oyster mussel is a rare species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. This aquatic bivalve mollusk is native to the Cumberland and Tennessee River systems of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia in the United States. It has been extirpated from the states of Georgia and North Carolina. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Potamilus leptodon, the scaleshell mussel or scale shell, is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This aquatic bivalve mollusk has disappeared from much of its historical range. It is endemic to the United States, where it is now present in four or fewer states; it is only found with any regularity in Missouri. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
The Ochlockonee moccasinshell is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
Popenaias popeii, common name the Texas hornshell, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
Westralunio carteri is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Hyriidae. It is endemic to Western Australia. It is known by the common name Carter's freshwater mussel. This is the only species of the genus Westralunio found in Australia.
Freshwater bivalves are one kind of freshwater mollusc, along with freshwater snails. They are bivalves that live in fresh water as opposed to salt water, which is the main habitat type for bivalves.
A bivalve shell is part of the body, the exoskeleton or shell, of a bivalve mollusk. In life, the shell of this class of mollusks is composed of two hinged parts or valves. Bivalves are very common in essentially all aquatic locales, including saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater. The shells of bivalves commonly wash up on beaches and along the edges of lakes, rivers, and streams. Bivalves by definition possess two shells or valves, a "right valve" and a "left valve", that are joined by a ligament. The two valves usually articulate with one another using structures known as "teeth" which are situated along the hinge line. In many bivalve shells, the two valves are symmetrical along the hinge line—when truly symmetrical, such an animal is said to be equivalved; if the valves vary from each other in size or shape, inequivalved. If symmetrical front-to-back, the valves are said to be equilateral, and are otherwise considered inequilateral.
Charles Torrey Simpson was an American botanist, malacologist, and conservationist. He retired to Florida where he became known for conservation.
Hyriidae is a taxonomic family of pearly freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs in the order Unionida. This family is native to South America, Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. Like all members of that order, they go through a larval stage that is parasitic on fish.
Fusconaia flava, the Wabash pigtoe, is a freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae.
Megalonaias nervosa is a freshwater mussel species in the family Unionidae. Washboard is the common name used for Megalonaias nervosa.
Velesunio wilsonii is a species of freshwater mussel endemic to Australia and comes from the Hyriidae family. Velesunio wilsonii mussels have a thick, dark shell that are sometimes flaky and mostly closed. Velesunio wilsonii have a fleshy foot that sometimes extends outside of the valves. The shell of the Velesunio wilsonii varies from oblong to a symmetrical circle. Velesunio wilsonii size ranges from 40 mm to 120 mm.
Echyridella is a genus of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. There are three recognised species in the genus, which all live in the waters of New Zealand. They are collectively known in Māori as kākahi.
