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Harvesting the River

Genus Actinonaias

Class Bivalvia : Subclass Paleoheterodonta : Genus Actinonaias

Actinonaias ligamentina (Mucket)
Muckets have large (to seven inches) oblong, thick shells. They are yellowish brown with green rays, although larger ones may be darker brown.
Muckets live in medium to large rivers in gravel or sand mixed with gravel. It disappeared from the Illinois River in 1930 because of pollution and siltation, but has recently made a comeback in the cleaner headwaters. It is abundant in the Kankakee River drainage.
Conservation status: widespread, locally abundant
Taxonomy: Order Unionoida, Superfamily Unionoidea, Family Unionidae, Subfamily Lampsilinae

Collection of the Illinois State Museum, Photographer, Karen Little
ISM Accession #: 679912

<b><i>Actinonaias ligamentina</i> (Mucket)</b>

Class Bivalvia : Subclass Paleoheterodonta : Genus Actinonaias

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