Painter's Mussel - Unio pictorum

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Description

Typically 70-80mm long but can be over 100mm. Elongate with the length at least twice the height. The hinge is long, straight and horizontal. The shell is usually a yellow/olive colour with brown growth lines visible.

Similar Species

It is only likely to be confused with Unio tumidus.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Lowland rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs.

When to see it

All year.

UK Status

Mainly found across England but not in Scotland nor the west of Wales.

VC55 Status

Rare.

  • Craig Mabbett
    Saddington Resevoir
    28 August 2021
  • Melinda Bell
    Hinckley,Ashby Canal
    27 August 2020
  • Melinda Bell
    Staunton Harold Reservoir
    21 October 2020
  • Melinda Bell
    Staunton Harold Reservoir
    21 October 2020
  • Melinda Bell
    Hinckley,Ashby Canal
    27 August 2020
  • Melinda Bell
    Staunton Harold Reservoir
    21 October 2020

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Painter's Mussel
Species group:
Slugs & Snails
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Unionoida
Family:
Unionidae
Records on NatureSpot:
9
First record:
08/10/1961 (Leicestershire Museums Collections)
Last record:
05/02/2024 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Melinda Bell
    Snarestone,Ashby Canal
    30 June 2021
  • Craig Mabbett
    Saddington Resevoir
    28 August 2021
  • sue
    River Trent, north of Castle Donington
    29 April 2021
  • Melinda Bell
    saltersford valley
    16 January 2022
    heavy shell plus elegant shape
  • sue
    Saddington Reservoir, drawdown zone adj to roadside
    18 November 2021
  • sue
    Saddington Reservoir, drawdown zone adj to roadside
    18 November 2021
  • Melinda Bell
    Staunton Harold Reservoir
    21 October 2020
  • Leicestershire Museums Collections
    Eyebrook Reservoir
    08 October 1961
  • Melinda Bell
    Hinckley,Ashby Canal
    27 August 2020