Ptychobranchus is a genus of freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae.
| Ptychobranchus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ptychobranchus subtentum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Unionida |
| Family: | Unionidae |
| Tribe: | Lampsilini |
| Genus: | Ptychobranchus Simpson, 1900 |
Species of this genus package their larvae, known as glochidia, in conglutinates that resemble prey items such as fish fry. As fish come to investigate these lures there is a better chance the glochidia will contact them, attach, and use them as hosts during development.[1]
Species include:[2]
- Ptychobranchus fasciolaris – kidneyshell
- Ptychobranchus foremanianus
- Ptychobranchus greenii – triangular kidneyshell
- Ptychobranchus jonesi – southern kidneyshell
- Ptychobranchus occidentalis – Ouachita kidneyshell
- Ptychobranchus subtentum – fluted kidneyshell
References edit
- ^ Zanatta, D. T. and R. W. Murphy. (2006). Evolution of active host-attraction strategies in the freshwater mussel tribe Lampsilini (Bivalvia: Unionidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41(1), 195-208.
- ^ Ptychobranchus. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
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