FRESHWATER MUSSELS (RIVALVIA

摘要: order Unionoida, and in North America (and Maine) freshwater mussels are represented by two families, the Margaritiferidae Unionidae. These familial names derived, respectively, from Greek margaritos Latin unio, both of which mean "pearl" refer to iridescent "mother-of-pearl" nacre interior shells as well propensity some these animals fashion pearls. The earliest pictures American found book Historice Animalium Anglia? published Martin Lister England 1678. was a physician naturalist who peculiarly regarded fossil mollusks "inorganic imitations produced rocks." Al? though occur worldwide, it is where they reach their greatest diversity, especially Mississippi drainage system. While only five taxa America, Unionidae comprises about 300 taxa. By contrast, there 17 unionoid species all Europe. Natural historians vanguard mussel systematics