Freshwater mussels are some of the planet's most fascinating and underappreciated animals. With their beautifully colorful shells, diversity of shapes and interesting adornments — including ridges, ...

Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered groups of animals in the world — over 80 species are protected under the Endangered Species Act and >20 species have recently gone extinct. As such, ...

Freshwater mussels, also known as clams, are unique animals. Mussels have two hard, external shells and soft tissue inside. They also have only one foot! The movement of mussels is limited. Most ...

Indeed, pearls from freshwater mussels lie at the center of the liveliest activity in pearling today. Natural freshwater pearls occur in mussels for the same reason that saltwater pearls occur in ...

A common listing on seafood restaurant menus, mussels are typically served swimming in mouthwatering broth. I love steamed ...

About 200 years ago pearl mussels were harvested for, as the name suggests, pearls. However, the name can mislead - only about one per cent of them contain this hidden 'treasure' (and most of ...

Pearls are made by marine oysters and freshwater mussels as a natural defence against an irritant such as a parasite entering their shell or damage to their fragile body. The oyster or mussel slowly ...

Freshwater mussels at risk of extinction have started reproducing for the first time in 13 years. Conservationists have been monitoring the River Irt which is home to the "critically endangered ...

But what’s going on under the water is an amazing process that grows and cultures freshwater pearls from our own native Tennessee mussels. Bob Keast is the owner of Birdsong Marina, Resort ...

Teams of biologists have relocated more than 33,000 freshwater mussels from the construction site of the new Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge, which will connect Montreal's West Island to Vaudreuil-Dorion.

A new colony of endangered freshwater pearl mussels has been discovered in north Highland. The rare species was uncovered during a watercourse survey being carried out before culvert replacement work.