08-09-2011, 08:52 PM
Hello Melissa,
I'm glad the information was helpful! And if you ever have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them! I should add one other bit of info about the freshwater bivalves you might find in Kentucky (and most of the rest of America). Other than Zebra mussels, there is one other invasive species that is quite common, but not a native freshwater mussel. This is called the Asian Clam. Below is a picture. Asian Clams are typically smaller than native mussels (reaching a max of 1.5 inches, but usually smaller than an inch), and round to triangular in shape. They also never have the "pearly" sheen inside the shell (but rather are plain white, sometimes with a purple tinge near the hinge).![[Image: 240_58_1_Spp_Corbicula.jpg]](http://www.europe-aliens.org/images/LimitedSize/240_58_1_Spp_Corbicula.jpg)
And if you ever do have extra empty native mussel shells you might find and can share, I am very much still involved in my mussel studies.
-Take care, Kevin
[signature]
I'm glad the information was helpful! And if you ever have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them! I should add one other bit of info about the freshwater bivalves you might find in Kentucky (and most of the rest of America). Other than Zebra mussels, there is one other invasive species that is quite common, but not a native freshwater mussel. This is called the Asian Clam. Below is a picture. Asian Clams are typically smaller than native mussels (reaching a max of 1.5 inches, but usually smaller than an inch), and round to triangular in shape. They also never have the "pearly" sheen inside the shell (but rather are plain white, sometimes with a purple tinge near the hinge).
And if you ever do have extra empty native mussel shells you might find and can share, I am very much still involved in my mussel studies.
-Take care, Kevin
[signature]