Flat Floater
EntdeckenInvertebrate
Flat Floater
utterbackiana suborbiculata
The Flat Floater (Utterbackiana suborbiculata) is a remarkably large and distinct freshwater mussel native to the quiet, muddy waters of North America. Known for its exceptionally flat, circular shell and thin, delicate structure, this bivalve is uniquely adapted to environments that would suffocate other mussel species. By spreading its weight across a wide surface area, it effectively floats on top of soft, unstable silt and mud bottoms. As ecosystem engineers, Flat Floaters play a vital role in maintaining aquatic health. Through continuous filter feeding, they clarify water, cycle nutrients, and provide microhabitats for benthic microorganisms, making them quiet champions of lake and river conservation.
Lebensraum: Found in quiet, slow-moving waters such as oxbow lakes, muddy ponds, and river sloughs with soft silt or mud substrates.
Aussehen
This mussel is easily recognized by its nearly circular, heavily compressed shell that can reach up to 18 centimeters in length. The shell is remarkably thin and fragile compared to other unionids. Its outer surface is typically a light yellowish-green to dark brown, often featuring fine green rays in younger specimens. Internally, the shell boasts a pearly, iridescent nacre that ranges from silvery-white to pinkish-orange, lacking well-developed hinge teeth.
ReichAnimaliaStammMolluscaKlasseBivalviaOrdnungUnionidaFamilieUnionidaeGattungUtterbackiana
Kategorie
InvertebrateSeltenheit
Common
Gefahr
1/5 · Sehr gering
Snaps
Mach den ersten Snap!
Interessante Fakten
Its scientific name 'suborbiculata' directly translates to 'nearly circular', referring to its unique, disc-like shape.
The flat floater's shell is so incredibly thin and fragile that dry shells can often be crushed easily with light finger pressure.
Unlike most mussels that require clean gravel, this species prefers thick, gooey mud, earning its reputation as a true mud-dweller.
Besondere Fähigkeiten
Fähigkeit
Buoyant Shell Design
An extremely thin, lightweight, and broad shell allows the mussel to rest on soft, deep silt without sinking.
Fähigkeit
Glochidial Hitchhiking
Its larvae attach to the fins or gills of specific host fish to safely disperse throughout aquatic systems.
Fähigkeit
Hypoxia Tolerance
It can survive in low-oxygen, stagnant water conditions that would be fatal to most other freshwater mussels.
Maße und Details
- Länge
- 10+ cm
- Gewicht
- 0.1+ kg
- Lebenserwartung
- 5+ Jahre
- Gelegegröße
- 50000+
- Brutzeit
- 180+ Tage
Ernährung und Fütterung
Filters microscopic organic debris, algae, and bacteria directly from the slow-moving water column using its specialized gills.
Hauptnahrung
- Phytoplankton
- Microscopic algae
- Organic detritus
- Bacteria
Nahrungssuche
- Filtering
Ökologische Zusammenhänge
parasite
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Serves as a host for the larval stage (glochidia) of the Flat Floater.
eaten by
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Preys on the adult mussels, leaving piles of empty shells along the banks.
Merkmale
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Auch bekannt als
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Sammlungen
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Sicherheit
Gefahr
1/5 · Sehr gering
Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Wie identifiziert man Flat Floater?
Der einfachste Weg, Flat Floater zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.
Was ist der/die/das länge von Flat Floater?
10+ cm
Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Flat Floater?
0.1+ kg
Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Flat Floater?
5+ Jahre
Was frisst Flat Floater?
Filters microscopic organic debris, algae, and bacteria directly from the slow-moving water column using its specialized gills.
Wo findet man Flat Floater normalerweise?
Found in quiet, slow-moving waters such as oxbow lakes, muddy ponds, and river sloughs with soft silt or mud substrates.
Wie jagt Flat Floater?
Filtering
Was ist der/die/das gelegegröße von Flat Floater?
50000+
Snap-Karte
Zoome hinein, um Cluster aufzulösen und zu sehen, wo dieses Objekt fotografiert wurde.
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Neueste Snaps
Neueste Snaps erscheinen hier, wenn neue Beobachtungen hinzukommen.
