definehingeteeth


    Metropolitan New York Region and New Jersey
Freshwater Mussel Identification Handbook


Key Features
Hinge Teeth

    
unique with 2 lateral teeth
in the right valve, 1 in the left

    
sharp, prominent laterals
and large pseudocardinals

    
The hinge "teeth"
are small structures of
irregular shape and size
that hold the two halves
of the shell together.

    Alasmidonta heterodon
dwarf wedgemussel 

    Elliptio complanata
eastern elliptio 

      

       
       
      

     
laterals may be vestigial, with
heavy, triangular pseudocardinals

    
large, conspicuous, triangular
pseudocardinals; laterals absent

    The principal teeth are
the pseudocardinals and
the laterals; a few species
have a third type, the
interdental, that lies
between the two.


    Alasmidonta undulata
triangle floater

     Margaritifera margaritifera
 eastern pearlshell

      

       
       
      

     
laterals may be weak but clearly
defined; interdentals present

    
some species have all teeth poorly
defined or absent

    Each type of tooth may
be absent or vestigial, 
and their presence,
absence and combination
can be definitive for
species identification.

    Lampsilis radiata
  eastern lampmussel 

    Strophitus undulatus
creeper 

     
 

    View other features
Anterior and Posterior
Beak and Beak Sculpture   Color Ray
Growth Lines  Hinge Teeth 
Length, Width, Height, Profile, Silhouette 
 Posterior Ridge and Slope  
Shell Shape

    View other pages
Mussel Features Menu
Front Page 
  Introduction to Mussels  
Species Menu    Key
 Conservation and Monitoring
Bibliography   Glossary

unique with 2 lateral teeth in the right valve, 1 in the left	sharp, prominent laterals and large pseudocardinals	The hinge "teeth" are small structures of irregular shape and size that hold the two halves of the shell together.
Alasmidonta heterodon dwarf wedgemussel	Elliptio complanata eastern elliptio

laterals may be vestigial, with heavy, triangular pseudocardinals	large, conspicuous, triangular pseudocardinals; laterals absent	The principal teeth are the pseudocardinals and the laterals; a few species have a third type, the interdental, that lies between the two.
Alasmidonta undulata triangle floater	Margaritifera margaritifera eastern pearlshell

laterals may be weak but clearly defined; interdentals present	some species have all teeth poorly defined or absent	Each type of tooth may be absent or vestigial, and their presence, absence and combination can be definitive for species identification.
Lampsilis radiata eastern lampmussel	Strophitus undulatus creeper