Page 63 - Animals of the Sakhalin Region in myths and legends

P Pearl mussel, Daurian

Large bivalve mollusc. Shell length up to 120 (Dahurinaia dahurica)
mm. It is similar to smooth foreign pearl, from
which it differs in the proportions of the shell. It is
dark brown outside, elongated-oval, moderately
swollen. The lock consists of cardinal anterior
teeth and posterior rudiments in the form of thin
rollers. The anterior tooth of the right valve is
massive, high, and notched. In the left valve,
the external anterior tooth is low, quadrangular,
rudimentary. Mother-of-pearl has blue-white or
brown-pink-colored layer, often with olive spots
Inhabits the waters of the Aleksandrovsk-
Sakhalinskii, Okhinsky and Nogliksky regions.

Pearl mussel, Kuril

(Kurilinaia kurilensis)

Large bivalve mollusc. Shell length is
up to 120 mm. It is also similar to a smooth
pearl mussel, from which it differs in the
proportions of the shell. It is dark brown
on the outside, elongated-oval, moderately
swollen. The tops of the head are slightly
protruding. The shell at the top of the
head is badly corroded. The lock consists
of cardinal anterior teeth and posterior
rudiments in the form of thin ridges. The
anterior tooth of the right valve is massive,
high, and notched. In the left valve, the
external anterior tooth is low, quadrangular,
rudimentary. Pearl layer is blue-white or
brown-pink.
Distributed in the rivers of southern
Sakhalin and the South Kuril Islands.

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