Aquatic Westralunio carteri. Freshwater mussel

[Thrud]

Walking along a small brook when I came across these freshwater mussels. Quite big and they squirt when you take them out of the water.

Didn't realise until I got home that they are at risk: (I won't pick them up in future)

The species W. carteri was nominated for addition to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List on 26 July 1999, which has resulted in the current listing as vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN (IUCN, 2009). An animal is Vulnerable when it is not Critically Endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

 

[MongooseDownUnder]

Where bouts did you find them Thrud?

 

[Bloffy13]

Tsk tsk.
Im gunna tell.
Lucky you didnt cut yourself on thos sharp shells.
...
How many did you get and were they tasty? Where did you get them?
Cheers
Bloffy

 

[Doc]

Another species get wiped off the planet. Only kidding

 

[Thrud]

Didn't try them just picked them up, honest!
They were in Gingin Brook.
Saw about 6.

 

[Aussie123]

One reason for the endangerment is pigs.

In some billabongs and streams you can see where they have rooted about and dug them up ....

Lovely to find some in such a beautiful stream.