Microcondylaea compressa
| Microcondylaea compressa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A view of valves of Microcondylaea compressa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Unionoida |
| Family: | Unionidae |
| Genus: | Microcondylaea |
| Species: | M. compressa |
| Binomial name | |
| Microcondylaea compressa (Menke, 1828) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Microcondylaea compressa is a species of freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. [1]
Distribution
This species is present in in southern Europe (Albania, Italy, Macedonia and Slovenia).[2][3]
Habitat
This species prefers weakly flowing waters, lakes and stagnant waters. It does not tolerate large excursions of the environmental parameters.[4]
Description
Microcondylaea compressa can reach a length of about 21 millimetres (0.83 in) and a width of 93 millimetres (3.7 in). Shells are quite elongated and laterally compressed. The external surface is dark brown with shallow concentric striae of growth.[4]
Biology
These mussels live completely sunken in sandy or muddy sediment. They mainly feed on phytoplankton and small particles suspended in the water and filtered by the gills. Their life lasts about 5-6 years.[4]