{{Short description|Genus of bivalves}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Ptychobranchus subtentum.jpg | image_caption = ''[[Ptychobranchus subtentum]]'' | taxon = Ptychobranchus | authority = [[Charles Torrey Simpson|Simpson]], 1900 }}
'''''Ptychobranchus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[freshwater bivalve|freshwater]] [[mussel]]s in the family [[Unionidae]]. They are [[endemism|endemic]] to [[North America]], and are mainly found in the Midwest and southeastern [[United States]] as well as [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. Several members of the genus are considered [[endangered species]].
The genus is characterized by folded gills of the female that accommodate larvae packages, thus the meaning of the genus name, "folded gills". She produces one conglutinate in each demibranch of the gills. Members of this genus are long-term brooders and hold their eggs over winter.<ref name="haag">{{cite journal |author=Wendall R. Haag |title=Adaptations to Host Infection and Larval Parasitism in Unionoida |journal=Journal of the North American Benthological Society |date=2008 |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=370–394 |doi=10.1899/07-093.1|url=https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/articles-cnas/31 }}</ref>
Species of this genus package their [[larva]]e, known as [[Glochidium|glochidia]], in conglutinates that resemble prey items such as aquatic insects, [[Juvenile fish|fish fry]], or fish eggs. The lures are intended to attract fish that the glochidia can use as hosts during development. When squeezed, the conglutinate will rupture, allowing the larvae to parasitically attach to the fish.<ref>Zanatta, D. T. and R. W. Murphy. (2006). [http://labs.eeb.utoronto.ca/murphy/PDFs%20of%20papers/2006-Zanatta_MPE.pdf Evolution of active host-attraction strategies in the freshwater mussel tribe Lampsilini (Bivalvia: Unionidae).] ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 41(1), 195-208.</ref><ref name=haag />
Species include:<ref name=itis>[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=80157 ''Ptychobranchus''.] Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).</ref> * ''[[Ptychobranchus fasciolaris]]'' – kidneyshell * ''[[Ptychobranchus foremanianus]]'' – rayed kidneyshell * ''[[Ptychobranchus greenii]]'' – triangular kidneyshell * ''[[Ptychobranchus jonesi]]'' – southern kidneyshell * ''[[Ptychobranchus occidentalis]]'' – Ouachita kidneyshell * ''[[Ptychobranchus subtentum]]'' – fluted kidneyshell
==References== {{Reflist}}
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[[Category:Ptychobranchus| ]] [[Category:Bivalve genera]] [[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]
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