Dreissenidae
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| Dreissenidae | ||||||||||||||
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Dreissena |
The Dreissenidae are a family of small freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks. They attach themselves to stones or to any other hard surface using a byssus.
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[edit] Shell morphology
The shell of mussels in this family is 25–40 mm in its maximum dimension; 25–40 mm wide (and about half as long across). The shell outline is bent, with one margin quite sharply incurved and the other strongly curved outwardly. The shell is opaque and robust; in coloration it is yellowish, brownish or greyish, often with light-and-dark stripes.
[edit] Biology and ecology
These mussels breathe via complex gills. They live in clean, well oxygenated, lowland rivers, canals and reservoirs, attaching to stones and other hard surfaces; they will also tolerate slightly brackish water.
[edit] Geographical range of distribution
In Britain there is only one species from this family, Dreissena polymorpha, the zebra mussel, which is a troublesome invasive species. In the USA, both D. polymorpha and D. bugensis are problematic introduced species.
[edit] External links
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