Rayed Bean
Paetulunio fabalis
DIAGNOSTICS 4
SHELL
- size: very small, maximum 40 mm, most under 20 mm.
- thickness: moderately thick, relative to size.
- shape: elliptical to oval
- width: moderately compressed
- surface: smooth, matte
- beaks: slightly inflated. sculptures; 4-5 faint double loops
- color/markings: dark green to dark brown. tightly packed green rays, commonly wavy in marsupial area of shell in adult females
- sexual dimorphism: males are larger, and their shells taper gradually to a blunted point in posterior, while females are more oval overall, with a blunt angle on ventral margin in marsupial area.
- pseudocardinal teeth: hinge plate relatively thick. well developed, one in right valve, two in right
- lateral teeth: same as pseudocardinals
- nacre: white
Soft parts: -------
Similar species/lookalikes: Relatively thick shell and hinge features on such a diminutive adult shell usually makes identification straightforward. Most juveniles of similarly shaped species, such as Villosa iris, are much more thin-shelled as juveniles of similar size. The wavy rays in marsupial area of females are also distinctive.
DISTRIBUTION/DRAINAGES 5
ONTARIO
- Sydenham
- Thames
Sources and Credits
- (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Philippe Blais
- (c) Femorale, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.femorale.com/shellphotos/detail.asp?species=Villosa%20fabalis%20(Lea,%201831)
- (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_fabalis
- (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
