Swan mussel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swan mussel |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Anodonta
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| Species: |
cygnea
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| Distribution of Anodonta cygnea in Europe. | |
The swan mussel, known scientifically as Anodonta cygnea, is a very large type of freshwater mussel. It's an aquatic animal, meaning it lives in water. This mussel is a bivalve, which means it has two shells that hinge together. It belongs to the river mussel family called Unionidae. Because it can look different depending on where it lives, scientists have given it over 500 different names over time!
What Does a Swan Mussel Look Like?
The swan mussel has a shell that is thin but quite big. It usually measures about 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) long. The shell is also quite flat, even near the umbo, which is the oldest part of the shell.
The shell's color is often a pale greenish or brownish shade. You can tell it apart from a similar mussel, Anodonta anatina, because the swan mussel's shell is larger. Its top and bottom edges are also straighter and more parallel. The growth lines on the inner, older part of the shell are very fine and shallow.
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This is the right side of a swan mussel's shell.
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This is the left side of a swan mussel's shell.
Where Do Swan Mussels Live?
Swan mussels are originally from Europe and Siberia. They can be found across a wide area, from the British Isles in the west all the way to Siberia in the east. They also live south into northern Africa.
You can find swan mussels in many countries, including:
- Croatia
- Czech Republic (where they are considered vulnerable)
- Denmark
- Germany (where they are highly endangered and protected)
- Great Britain and Ireland
- Italy
- The Netherlands
- Philippines
- Poland (where they are endangered)
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Sweden (where they are quite rare)
What is the Swan Mussel's Habitat?
These mussels live in both rivers and lakes. They prefer calm, slow-moving water. Swan mussels have a strong, distinct smell. Because of this, some carp fishermen use them as bait to catch fish.
