🐟 AquaticCare difficulty: AdvancedLegal complexity: High — restricted in many states
Freshwater pearl mussel
Margaritifera margaritifera
The freshwater pearl mussel is an exceptionally long-lived river bivalve whose larvae depend on salmon and trout. Endangered by pollution, river engineering, and the decline of its host fish, it is also a powerful indicator of pristine water quality.
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Quick facts
| Size | Large river mussel to ~14 cm, extraordinarily long-lived. |
| Lifespan | 80–130 years |
| Native region | Cool rivers of Europe and north-eastern North America |
| Climate | 🍂 Temperate |
| Water type | 💧 Freshwater |
| Genus | Margaritifera |
Habitat & enclosure
Lives buried in the gravel beds of clean, fast, low-nutrient rivers and streams. Pollution, sedimentation, dams, and the loss of salmonid host fish have caused widespread declines. It is strictly protected; historical pearl harvesting also took a toll. This profile is conservation/education only, and captive-rearing programs help reintroduce juveniles to restored rivers.
Diet
A filter feeder straining fine particles and microorganisms from the water, in doing so improving water clarity. Its filtration is an ecosystem service that benefits whole river reaches.
Behavior & temperament
Its larvae (glochidia) must attach to the gills of salmon or trout to develop, so the mussel cannot reproduce without healthy host-fish populations. This tight dependence links mussel conservation to the recovery of migratory fish and clean rivers.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial — conservation profile (pending DVM/biologist review)