Triangular kidneyshell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Triangular kidneyshell |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ptychobranchus
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| Species: |
greenii
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| Synonyms | |
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Unio brumbyanus |
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The triangular kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus greenii) is a special type of freshwater mussel. It lives in rivers and streams. This mussel is part of the Unionidae family, also known as river mussels. You can only find it in Alabama, United States. Because it's so rare, the United States government has listed it as an endangered species. This means it needs protection to survive.
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About the Triangular Kidneyshell
This amazing creature is an aquatic bivalve mollusc. A bivalve is an animal with two shells that are hinged together. The triangular kidneyshell has a somewhat oval shape. It can grow up to 10 centimeters long. That's about the length of a typical smartphone!
What Does It Look Like?
The shell of the triangular kidneyshell is usually yellow to yellow-brown. However, its exact look can change a lot from one mussel to another. Each one might have slightly different patterns or shades.
How Does It Reproduce?
When this mussel is ready to have babies, it does something very interesting. It releases its tiny larvae, called glochidia. These glochidia are stuck together in small packets. These packets are called conglutinates.
A Clever Trick for Survival
Each conglutinate has a sticky thread. This thread helps it stick to the bottom of the river. This way, the packets don't get washed away by the water. The conglutinate also looks like a small worm or a fish egg. This makes it look tasty to fish!
Finding a Host Fish
Fish like the warrior darter, Tuskaloosa darter, and blackbanded darter eat these packets. When a fish eats a packet, the glochidia are set free. They then attach themselves to the fish's gills. For a short time, they live there as tiny parasites.
Growing Up in the Water
While on the fish, the glochidia grow into young mussels. Once they are big enough, they drop off the fish. They then settle on the riverbed to continue growing. Many other mussels in the Unionidae family use a similar process to reproduce.
Where Does the Triangular Kidneyshell Live?
This mussel used to live in many rivers in Alabama. These included the Black Warrior River and its smaller streams. It also lived in the Coosa River and its branches, and the Cahaba River.
Its Current Home
By 1993, when it was listed as an endangered species, it was found in fewer places. It was mainly in some streams that flow into the Black Warrior River. It was also in the Conasauga River, which is part of the Coosa River system. Any mussels found in the Cahaba River are now thought to be a different species. This other species is called Ptychobranchus foremanianus.
Protecting Its Habitat
The triangular kidneyshell is no longer found in the main Black Warrior River. But it still lives in at least two smaller streams that flow into it. These streams are protected inside the Bankhead National Forest. This protection helps keep these special mussels safe.
