Folded Crown Pearl Mussel of Dongping Lake

Folded Crown Pearl Mussel of Dongping Lake

　　The Folded Crown Pearl Mussel of Dongping Lake is a wild mussel species that grows in the lake. Commonly known as "Crested Mussel," "Lake Mussel," or "Flag Mussel," it is a benthic aquatic animal belonging to the genus Cristaria of the family Unionidae. It has a large shell with relatively thin shell material, slightly inflated valves, an anteriorly positioned beak, and an elongated oval shape. The frontal dorsal edge has an inconspicuous crest, while the posterior part is long and tall, with the rear dorsal edge extending upward in a large crest. From the beak to the rear of the shell, there is a series of progressively thicker longitudinal ribs. The hinge is strong, with a thick ligament located at the base of the crest. Each valve has a posterior lateral tooth but no pseudocardinal tooth. The anterior lateral tooth is slender and may disappear in weaker or older individuals. The outer shell surface is dark yellow-green, yellow-brown, or blackish-brown with folds; the inner surface is smooth with a thick nacre layer, appearing silver-white, salmon-colored, or silver with a bluish tint.

　　The Folded Crown Pearl Mussel inhabits muddy or sandy lake bottoms in still or slow-moving water, requiring a water pH range of 4.5 to 9.5. They typically gather in groups at depths of 1 to 3 meters. During cold winter and spring weather, they bury themselves entirely in the mud or sand, leaving only the posterior edge of the shell exposed for respiration and feeding. In hot summer weather, they rise and expose more than half of their shells. They feed on microorganisms in the water and take about 2 to 3 years to reach maturity.

　　The Folded Crown Pearl Mussels of Dongping Lake are large in size, high in quality, and produce a high yield of pearls. Larger lake mussels can weigh over 1 kilogram, with typical ones about the size of a goose egg. In 1970, our county conducted pearl-culturing experiments in the Da’anshan area using these mussels. After three summers and two winters of cultivation, each mussel could produce 5.2 grams of pearls, mostly pearly white and light pink in color. The lake has abundant mussel resources. In the 1980s, villages around Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Province, lacking mussel sources for pearl cultivation, purchased large quantities from our county. In 1986 alone, over 1,500 tons were harvested.

　　The mussel is a treasure in its entirety and can be utilized comprehensively. Its meat is delicious, rich in high-quality protein, and can be processed into canned food. After pearl cultivation, the resulting pearl powder is an excellent medicinal substance, known for its calming, heat-clearing, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties. It can treat neurasthenia, fever and convulsions in children, hepatitis, sore throat, glaucoma, and hypertension. The mussel shell can be used for shell art or ground into powder to make high-quality feed for livestock and poultry.

　　The Folded Crown Pearl Mussel is a highly valuable aquatic animal with broad development prospects. Dongping Lake, the second-largest freshwater lake in Shandong, is formed by the accumulation of water from the Yellow River, the Grand Canal, and the Dawen River. A variety of organic matter washed down from these major water systems accumulates in large quantities in the lake, fostering rich microbial life and making it an exceptionally favorable breeding ground for Folded Crown Pearl Mussels. With further development, construction, and scientific management of Dongping Lake, mussel resources will be fully utilized.