Rainbow Mussel
cambarunio iris
DIAGNOSTICS 3
SHELL
- size: small to medium, maximum 85 mm, most under 60 mm.
- thickness: thin
- shape: elliptical/elongate to oval
- width: compressed to moderately inflated
- surface: smooth, matte
- beaks: slightly inflated, posterior. sculpture: 4 to 6 double loop bars
- color/markings: periostracum yellow to tan with regular green rays, often interrupted and usually wider and concentrated in posterior. Some specimen rayless.
- sexual dimorphism: males with posterior end more tapered and pointed while more rounded and wider in females. Males grow larger than females.
- pseudocardinal teeth: small and somewhat compressed
- lateral teeth: well developed but delicate, straight.
- nacre: white, irridescent
Soft parts: foot while. deployed female lure large, marbled, with many papillae (crayfish mimic)
Similar species/lookalikes: usually readily identifiable. live specimens with faint rays may resemble cylindrical papershell. small size, elongated shape and wide interrupted rays on yellow background are diagnostic.
DISTRIBUTION/WATERSHEDS 4
ONTARIO
Lake Huron-St-Clair dr.:
- Saugeen R.
- Maitland R.
- Bayfield R.
- Ausable R.
- Sidenham R.
Thames R.
Lake Erie dr.:Grand R.
Lake Ontario dr.:- Trent R.
- Moira R. < Parks Cr.
- Salmon R.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Philippe Blais
- (c) Matthew Ireland, all rights reserved, uploaded by Matthew Ireland
- Adapted by Philippe Blais from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villosa_iris
- (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
