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Harvesting the River

Genus Hemistena

Class Bivalvia : Subclass Paleoheterodonta : Genus Hemistena

Hemistena lata (Cracking Pearlymussel)
The interior of the cracking pearlymussel shell has a bluish white nacre that is tinged purple or pink near the beak cavity. The pseudocardinal teeth appear only as a thickened knob. The lateral teeth appear only as a thickened hinge line. The beak cavity is very shallow.

Collection of the Illinois State Museum, photograph by Karen Little
ISM Accession #: 679815

<b><i>Hemistena lata</i> (Cracking Pearlymussel)</b>

Class Bivalvia : Subclass Paleoheterodonta : Genus Hemistena

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