Freshwater pearl mussel

Margaritifera margaritifera

Freshwater Pearl Mussel

  • It feeds on small organic particles.
  • It requires stable cobble and gravel substrates with little fine material.
  • Growth rings can be seen on the shells.
  • Maturity is reached after 10-15 years.
  • After maturity, it can have a reproductive life span of about 75 years.
  • It has two sexes. Females can become self-fertile hermaphrodites.
  • It is a Holarctic species, found in North America and Europe.
  • The hosts of its parasitic larvae are salmonids. In Europe, these are the brown trout and Atlantic salmon.
  • Population declined over 90 % in Europe in the last 90 years.
  • The loss of habitats and host fish contributed to its population decline.
  • It is assessed as Endangered globally and Critically Endangered in Europe on the IUCN Red List.
Contact person

Fengzhi He

Guest Scientist
Research group
Aquatic Ecogeography

Sonja Jähnig

Head of Department
Research group
Aquatic Ecogeography