Freshwater molluscs are those members of the Phylum Mollusca which live in freshwater habitats, both those that are lotic (flowing water) such as rivers, streams, canals, springs and underground cave streams (stygobite species) and those that are lentic (still water) such as lakes, ponds (including temporary or vernal ponds), and ditches.

This article is about freshwater Mollusca in general; for information on one particular family of freshwater molluscs, please follow the appropriate blue link in the lists below.

The two major classes of molluscs have representatives in freshwater: the gastropods (snails) and the bivalves (freshwater mussels and clams.) It appears that the other classes within the Phylum Mollusca -the cephalopods, scaphopods, polyplacophorans, etc. - never made the transition from a fully marine environment to a freshwater environment.

A few species of freshwater molluscs are among the most notorious invasive species. In contrast, numerous others have become threatened or have become extinct in the face of anthropogenic change.

Contents 1 Biogeography 2 Ecological and anatomical challenges 3 Disease vectors 4 Freshwater bivalves 5 Freshwater gastropods 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Biogeography

Typical freshwater species (such as many river mussel species in the family Unionidae) have a range which may consist of a series of adjacent river systems, a series of adjacent tributaries, or part of a single large river system. Large rivers and small tributary creeks typically share few species, and distribution patterns suggest large lowland rivers represent substantial barriers to the dispersal of species adapted to small upland streams. Endemism is common in some families, and species may be endemic to a single creek or spring. In contrast, some of the tiny pill clams have a nearly worldwide distribution (Burch, 1972)^[1]

[edit] Ecological and anatomical challenges

Challenges in the natural environment faced by freshwater Mollusca include floods, droughts, siltation, extreme temperature variations, predation, and the constant unidirectional flow characteristic of river habitats. Osmoregulation, or the maintenance of constant salinity within body tissure and fluids, is another challenge faced by freshwater Mollusca. Dillon (2000)^[2] indicates that they have characteristically low tissue salinities relative to other freshwater animals, and unionoid mussels have some of the lowest tissue salinities of any animal.

[edit] Disease vectors

Some freshwater snail species serve as hosts for human and animal parasites.

[edit] Freshwater bivalves

Unionoida

The Unionoida, of worldwide distribution are the pearly freshwater mussels. All reproduce by means of a larval stage that is parasitic on fish. Many species are utilized as sources of mother-of-pearl.

• Margaritiferidae

• Unionidae

• Hyriidae

• Etheriidae

• Mutelidae

• Mycetopodidae

Superfamily Unionoida: pearly freshwater mussels

Family Margaritiferidae, a shell of Margaritifera auricularia

Family Unionidae, Quadrula metanevra, the monkeyface mussel

Family Unionidae, Anodonta cygnea

Veneroida

The Veneroida is a large group of bivalve "clams", most of which are marine. Several groups have colonized fresh and brackish waters.

• Corbiculidae

• Sphaeriidae

• Dreissenidae

Superfamily Veneroida

Family Corbiculidae, shell of Corbicula fluminea

Family Sphaeriidae, Sphaerium corneum, one of the small fingernail clams.

Family Dreissenidae, Dreissena polymorpha

[edit] Freshwater gastropods

Ten families of prosobranchiate snails (gilled operculate snails) and five pulmonate families (lunged snails, distantly related to common landsnails) inhabit freshwater environments in many parts of the world. Please see Freshwater snails for more information.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society