Question

2
1
The freshwater mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, is a mollusc which lives in rivers and
streams.
For
Examiner's
Use
When the mussel reproduces, gametes are released into the water and fertilisation takes
place.
The embryos, in the form of larvae, attach themselves to the gills of fish and develop there
for a few months.
The larvae then release themselves and grow in sand in the river, feeding by filtering food
from the water.
The number of mussels is falling due to human predation and the species is threatened with
extinction.
(a) The mussel belongs to the group known as the molluscs. State two features you would
expect the mussel to have.
1.
2.
[2]

Answer 1

Answer:

Kingdom:

Animalia

Phylum:

Mollusca

Class:

Bivalvia

Order:

Unionida

Family:

Margaritiferidae

Genus:

Margaritifera

Explanation:

The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is an endangered species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Margaritiferidae.