MolluscIreland - land and freshwater
  • Musculium lacustre (O. F. Müller 1774) Lake orb mussel
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Musculium lacustre
© Dr Roy Anderson
Musculium lacustre
© Dr Roy Anderson

Map hosted by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Waterford
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A small, fragile bivalve with an oval to quadrangular, pearly grey shell. Umbos slightly in front of middle, directed forwards and capped by the juvenile shell. Uncommon in poor or temporary habitats.

Key characteristics

  • A small, fragile, pearly grey to white bivalve shell
  • Umbos slightly in front of middle, directed forwards and capped by the juvenile shell
  • Posterior end broad and roughly truncated
  • Surface ornamented with fine even concentric striation and fairly glossy

Size

8-11 mm.

World Distribution

Widespread across the north temperate zone. Distribution type: Circumpolar Temperate (76).

GBIF distribution map [open in new tab]

Irish Distribution

Thinly distributed but locally common in the north-east, east and the southern half.

Ecology

  • A species mainly of small, temporary or 'poor' habitats where few other species are present
  • Occasional in sand-pits and areas subject to seasonal flooding around large lakes

Red List status

  • Vulnerable (VU).

Wikipedia link

Wikipedia page for Musculium lacustre

 Anderson, R., (2016). Musculium lacustre (O. F. Müller 1774). [In] MolluscIreland.
http://www.habitas.org.uk/molluscireland/species.asp?ID=119 Accessed on 2024-10-07.