Molluscs › River Mussels
Fragile Papershell
Potamilus fragilis
28 photos
Study shows up to four per card, from different observers, so you learn the species rather than one picture. Heart the good ones and swap any you do not like.
Photos you add are credited to you, and you keep the copyright.
Easily confused with
Giant FloaterPyganodon grandis
Pink PapershellPotamilus ohiensis
FatmucketLampsilis siliquoidea
Paper PondshellUtterbackia imbecillis
Plain PocketbookLampsilis cardium
Pink HeelsplitterPotamilus alatus
Yellow SandshellLampsilis teres
MucketOrtmanniana ligamentina
Study checks a spoken answer against these, and tells you which one you named.
Where it is recorded
| United States | 6,817 |
|---|---|
| Ohio | 1,115 |
| Canada | 1,011 |
| Ontario | 920 |
| South Dakota | 506 |
| Kentucky | 499 |
| Alabama | 423 |
| Wisconsin | 378 |
| Minnesota | 350 |
| Illinois | 348 |
Counts show where people looked, not only where it lives.
Traits
Physical
- Shell-bearingProtected by a hard shellFrom its classification
Group and habits
- Filter feederFeeds by filtering suspended food particles from water.From its classification
Classification
| Kingdom | Animals · Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Molluscs · Mollusca |
| Class | Bivalves · Bivalvia |
| Order | Freshwater Mussels · Unionida |
| Family | River Mussels · Unionidae |
| Genus | Potamilus |
Sources
- Names, taxonomy and observation counts: www.inaturalist.org
- Photos and recordings: the creator and source are on each one.
- How much to rely on each source
Remember the name next time.
Practise Fragile Papershell with real photos from different observers. Say the name out loud, and it comes back just before you would forget it.