Mucket

[Dave Paprocki]

A relatively large, yellowish brown [freshwater] unionid commonly found throughout the midwestern United States. This bivalve can be identified by its heavy shell, shallow depth of beak cavity, large pseudocardinal teeth and oblong shape. Young show distinct green rays radiating from [the beak]. While commonly defined as [mussels], many leading malacologists identify muckets as unionids seperate from mussels. A distinguishing difference is that they lack the byssal threads used by many bivalves, including mussels, to hold themselves to rocks and other fixed structures. Several other species, such as the Pink Mucket, utilize the common name but are of a different subfamily.
P. [Mollusca]
C. Bivalvia
O. Unionoida
F. Unionidae
G-Sp. Actinonaias ligamentia

[Julian]

A North American freshwater mussel of the family Unionidae; specifically Actinonaias ligamentina of the eastern United States or a related species, usually of the genus Lampsilis or Leptodea.