''Velesunio'' is a genus of medium to large sized

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 ...

s in the family

Hyriidae Hyriidae is a taxonomic family of pearly freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs in the order Unionida. This family is native to South America, Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. Like all members of that order, they go through a larval ...

Distribution

''Velesunio'' are found on mainland

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

. ''Velesunio'' also occur in

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

Habitat and ecology

Lives with two thirds of their shell buried in the sediment (making them

infaunal Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is ''funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as '' biota''. Zool ...

) in rivers, streams, lakes, billabongs and water catchment dams.

List of species

A list of species included in the genus of ''Velesunio'': * ''

Velesunio ambiguus ''Velesunio ambiguus'', the floodplain mussel, or the billabong mussel (South Australia), is a species of freshwater bivalve in the family Hyriidae. There are four other cryptic species in the genus '' Velesunio'' (which all look similar to ' ...

'' (Philippi, 1847) * '' Velesunio angasi'' (Sowerby, 1867) * ''

Velesunio moretonicus ''Velesunio'' is a genus of medium to large sized mussels in the family Hyriidae. Distribution ''Velesunio'' are found on mainland Australia and Tasmania. ''Velesunio'' also occur in Papua New Guinea. Habitat and ecology Lives with two thi ...

'' (Sowerby, 1865) * '' Velesunio sentaniensis'' (Haas, 1924) * '' Velesunio wilsonii'' (Lea, 1859) Note: Species of ''Velesunio'' may appear very similar in appearance to those of '' Alathyria,

Hyridella ''Hyridella'' is a genus of bivalves belonging to the family Hyriidae Hyriidae is a taxonomic family of pearly freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs in the order Unionida. This family is native to South America, Australia, New Zeal ...

Cucumerunio ''Cucumerunio'' is a genus of bivalves belonging to the family Hyriidae. The species of this genus are found in Australia. Species: *'' Cucumerunio novaehollandiae'' *''Cucumerunio websteri ''Cucumerunio websteri'' is a species of freshwat ...

'' and '' Westralunio.'' The type species for this genus is ''Unio balonnensis'' Conrad, 1850 collected from the Balonne River, New South Wales.

References

Hyriidae Bivalve genera {{bivalve-stub