The winged floater (''Anodonta nuttalliana'') is a species of freshwater

mussel Mussel () is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and Freshwater bivalve, freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other ...

, an aquatic

bivalve Bivalvia (), in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class of marine and freshwater molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts. As a group, bival ...

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1838 by Isaac Lea, along with two similar-looking shells from one location in the lower Willamette River: '' A. oregonensis'' (Oregon floater) and ''A. wahlamatensis'' (Willamette floater). The latter is currently treated as synonymous with ''A. nuttalliana''.

Description

The shell of the winged floater is quite thin, and elliptical or ovate, with the back dorsal showing the prominent "wing" shape. The

nacre Nacre ( , ), also known as mother of pearl, is an organicinorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. Nacre is f ...

has white or blue-tinged tone. Individuals may reach a size of up to .

Distribution and habitat

The winged floater lives buried in the sandy or muddy bottom of lakes and rivers, most frequently at low elevations. The species occurs in California, Oregon, Washington, and the southern parts of British Columbia. Historical records from Utah are of uncertain status.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3797609 nuttalliana