This freshwater species is common in canals.

Statistics
Shell length: 90mm.

Physical description
The bivalve (two-part) shell is brown or green with colour variation between the prominent growth lines. The insides of the shells are covered in white mother-of-pearl.

Distribution
They are found throughout Europe.

Habitat
They inhabit freshwater habitats, including slow moving rivers, lakes and ponds. Freshwater mussels are very common in canals.

Diet
Freshwater mussels feed on debris and micro-organisms.

Reproduction
They can lay over 200,000 eggs a year. These are incubated for 4-6 weeks in the females gills. After the larvae hatch they hook themselves into fish gills where they live for a few weeks until they drop off and live in the mud like adults.

Conservation status
They are not listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.