Ochlockonee moccasinshell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ochlockonee moccasinshell |
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| Medionidus simpsonianus from the original description of the species by Walker, 1905 | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Unionida |
| Family: | Unionidae |
| Genus: | Medionidus |
| Species: |
M. simpsonianus
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| Binomial name | |
| Medionidus simpsonianus Walker, 1905
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The Ochlockonee moccasinshell (Medionidus simpsonianus) is a special type of freshwater mussel. It's a small water animal with two shells, like a clam. These mussels are part of a group called mollusks and belong to the Unionidae family, also known as river mussels.
This unique mussel is found only in the United States. It lives in rivers, which are its natural habitat. Sadly, it is considered a critically endangered species, meaning it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Discovering the Ochlockonee Moccasinshell
The Ochlockonee moccasinshell was first described as a new species in 1905. A scientist named Bryant Walker wrote about it in a science magazine called The Nautilus.
Walker found only three of these small mussels. They were discovered near Calvary, Georgia, but he didn't know the exact stream they came from. He named the species after another important scientist, Charles Torrey Simpson.
The original description mentioned that the shell is small and somewhat thin. It has a dark yellow color with dark green lines that look like a network. The shell also has strong, wavy ridges on its back slope.
Images for kids
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Medionidus simpsonianus from the original description of the species by Walker, 1905
See also
In Spanish: Medionidus simpsonianus para niños
 | William Lucy |
 | Charles Hayes |
 | Cleveland Robinson |
