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''Epioblasma'' is a
This entire genus is imperiled. In this genus, 15 species or subspecies are believed to be extinct. Of those remaining, all are federally protected species. The last to be listed as a federally endangered species was '' Epioblasma triquetra'', which was listed in 2012.
This group of freshwater mussels is threatened primarily by habitat alteration as are other freshwater mussels. Dams, erosion, and pollution appear to be the primarily threats. Some workers recognize additional species not currently on the official list of recognized species.
Image:Epioblasma capsaeformis.jpg, '' Epioblasma capsaeformis''
Image:Epioblasma triquetra.jpg, '' Epioblasma triquetra''
Image:Epioblasma walkeri.jpg, '' Epioblasma walkeri''
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of freshwater mussel
Freshwater bivalves are one kind of freshwater mollusc, along with freshwater snails. They are bivalves that live in fresh water as opposed to salt water, which is the main habitat type for bivalves.
The majority of species of bivalve molluscs ...
s, aquatic bivalve
Bivalvia (), in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class (biology), class of marine and freshwater Mollusca, molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hing ...
mollusk
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...
s in the family Unionidae
The Unionidae are a family of freshwater mussels, the largest in the order Unionida, the bivalve molluscs sometimes known as river mussels, or simply as unionids.
The range of distribution for this family is world-wide. It is at its most divers ...
, the river mussels. Most of the species in this genus have been lost in modern times, and the entire genus is threatened with the possibility of extinction.
Reproduction
All Unionidae are known to use the gills, fins, or skin of a host fish for nutrients during the larval glochidia stage. It was discovered in 2004 that female ''Epioblasma'' in the subgenus ''Torulosa'' transfer their parasitic larvae to the host fish by snapping onto the head of the fish and pumping the larvae into the host fish's gills. While using bait to lure host fish towards the larvae is common in the family Unionidae, this was the first time that "fish snapping" behavior had been observed. Examination of other species within the genus ''Epioblasma'' may further reveal unusual reproductive mechanisms.Taxonomy of the genus ''Epioblasma''
Note: Taxa with a "†
A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species). It is one of the modern descendan ...
" symbol are extinct due to human activity
*Subgenus †''Epioblasma''
**†''Epioblasma flexuosa
''Epioblasma flexuosa'', the arcuate pearly mussel or leafshell, was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic animal, aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This species was Endemism, endemic to the United States, w ...
'' - Leafshell
**†''Epioblasma lewisii
The forkshell or Lewis pearly mussel, scientific name ''Epioblasma lewisii'', was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
This species was endemic to the drainages of the Ohio R ...
'' - Forkshell
**†'' Epioblasma stewardsonii'' - Cumberland leafshell
*Subgenus ''Pilea''
**†'' Epioblasma haysiana'' - Acornshell
**'' Epioblasma obliquata''
***''Epioblasma obliquata obliquata'' - Purple catspaw
***''Epioblasma obliquata perobliqua'' - White catspaw
**†'' Epioblasma personata'' - Round combshell
*Subgenus ''Plagiola''
**†'' Epioblasma arcaeformis'' - Sugarspoon
**'' Epioblasma brevidens'' - Cumberlandian combshell
**†''Epioblasma lenior
''Epioblasma lenior'', the narrow catspaw or Stone's pearly mussel, was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
This species was endemic to the Tennessee River system in the Unit ...
'' - Narrow catspaw
**''Epioblasma metastriata
The upland combshell (''Epioblasma metastriata'') was a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. It was endemic to the upper Mobile River Basin in the southeastern United States.
This species was found only in the shoals of rivers ...
'' - Upland combshell
**'' Epioblasma othcaloogensis'' - Southern acornshell
**'' Epioblasma penita'' - Southern combshell
*Subgenus ''Torulosa''
**'' Epioblasma ahlstedti'' - Duck River oyster mussel
**†''Epioblasma biemarginata
''Epioblasma biemarginata'', the angled riffleshell, was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. It is now extinct.
This species was endemic to the drainages of the Cumberland Ri ...
'' - Angled riffleshell
**'' Epioblasma capsaeformis'' - Oyster mussel
**†'' Epioblasma cincinnatiensis'' - Cincinnati Riffleshell
**'' Epioblasma florentina''
***'' Epioblasma florentina aureola'' - Golden riffleshell
***'' Epioblasma florentina curtisii'' - Curtis pearlymussel
***†'' Epioblasma florentina florentina'' - Yellow blossom
***'' Epioblasma florentina walkeri'' - Tan riffleshell
**†''Epioblasma propinqua
''Epioblasma propinqua'', the Tennessee riffleshell or nearby pearly mussel, was a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. It was endemic to the United States, where it was found in the drainages of the Cumberland River, Ohio Riv ...
'' - Tennessee riffleshell
**†'' Epioblasma sampsonii'' - Wabash riffleshell
**'' Epioblasma torulosa''
***†''Epioblasma torulosa gubernaculum
''Epioblasma'' is a genus of freshwater mussels, Aquatic animal, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. Most of the species in this genus have been lost in modern times, and the entire genus is threatened with the po ...
'' - Green blossom
***''Epioblasma torulosa rangiana
The northern riffleshell (''Epioblasma torulosa rangiana''), is a subspecies of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
This subspecies is endangered.
This species was formerly found widely in ...
'' - Northern riffleshell
***†'' Epioblasma torulosa torulosa'' - Tubercled blossom
**†'' Epioblasma turgidula'' - Turgid riffle shell
*Subgenus ''Truncillopsis''
**'' Epioblasma triquetra'' - Snuffbox
Conservation status
This entire genus is imperiled. In this genus, 15 species or subspecies are believed to be extinct. Of those remaining, all are federally protected species. The last to be listed as a federally endangered species was '' Epioblasma triquetra'', which was listed in 2012.
This group of freshwater mussels is threatened primarily by habitat alteration as are other freshwater mussels. Dams, erosion, and pollution appear to be the primarily threats. Some workers recognize additional species not currently on the official list of recognized species.
Gallery
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3015342 Bivalve genera Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque Taxonomy articles created by Polbot