Mysterious kidney-shaped creature found among pebbles in China. It’s a new species
While sifting through pebbles in a Chinese river, scientists came across a tiny kidney-shaped creature — and discovered an “enigmatic” new species of freshwater mussels.
The tiny new creatures are known as Diaurora laeve, according to a study published Aug. 3 in ZooKeys. The species is the latest identified in the rare and mysterious Diaurora genus of freshwater mussels.
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Scientists said the mussels have an orangish to brownish kidney-shaped shell that is covered in irregular blackish-green rays. Their shells are smooth and are marked by thin concentric growth lines.
The creatures were named “laeve” — which is Latin for smooth — for the smoothness of their shells, according to the study.
The mussels are small, measuring about 1.5-inches long, 1.1-inches tall and 0.6 inches wide, researchers said.
Inside their shells, the mussels have a light orange mother-of-pearl coating, researchers said. They also have a thin membrane for protection, known as a mantle, that is an off-white to light-brownish color.
Experts said further research of small tributaries in China is necessary to learn more about the species and its distribution. For now, it has only been identified in the Zishui River, which is in the Hunan province in southeast China.
This story was originally published August 10, 2023 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Mysterious kidney-shaped creature found among pebbles in China. It’s a new species."
