Head to head
Freshwater Pearl Mussel vs Swan Mussel
Freshwater Pearl Mussel
VS Swan Mussel
The freshwater pearl mussel and the swan mussel are two freshwater mussels of Europe whose larvae depend on fish, but they live in quite different waters and have very different fortunes.
| Freshwater Pearl Mussel | Swan Mussel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Margaritifera margaritifera | Anodonta cygnea |
| Relationship | A freshwater mussel whose larvae live on fish gills | A freshwater mussel whose larvae attach to fish gills and fins |
| Shell | A thick, dark brown to black, kidney-shaped shell, usually around 10 to 14 cm long | A large, oval, thin shell, olive-green to yellow-brown, which can reach up to about 20 cm long |
| Larval hosts | Attach to the gills of young salmon and trout for several months | Attach to the gills and fins of fish for a few weeks |
| Habitat | Half buried in clean gravel and sand in cold, fast, unpolluted rivers | Partly buried in mud and sand in lakes, ponds, canals, and slow rivers |
| Lifespan | Can live for well over a hundred years, one of the longest-lived invertebrates known | A shorter-lived mussel that drags itself slowly along the bottom, leaving a furrow in the mud |
| Special link | Occasionally produces a pearl, and was once fished for pearls across Europe | Hosts the eggs of the European bitterling inside its gills |
| Conservation status | Endangered, declining across Europe from pollution, siltation, river engineering, and past pearl fishing | Least Concern, though local populations have declined where water has been polluted or dredged |
Freshwater Pearl Mussel vs Swan Mussel: common questions
Which one is endangered?
The freshwater pearl mussel, which has declined drastically across Europe from pollution, siltation, river engineering, and past pearl fishing.
Which one lives longer?
The freshwater pearl mussel, which can live for well over a hundred years.
Do both need fish?
Yes, the larvae of both attach to fish for a time, which carries them to new places before they settle on the bottom.