Plethobasus cyphyus

Plethobasus cyphyus
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Vulnerable  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Unionida
Family:	Unionidae
Genus:	Plethobasus
Species:	P. cyphyus
Binomial name
Plethobasus cyphyus Rafinesque, 1820

Plethobasus cyphyus, the sheepnose mussel, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.

This species is endemic to the Midwest and Southeast United States. ^[2] It is currently listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ^{[3] [4]} and it is no longer present in two-thirds of the waterways in which it was historically found. ^[2]

Host fish species for the sheepnose's glochidia include Pimephales promelas , Semotilus atromaculatus , Campostoma anomalum and Culaea inconstans , while attachment to sauger ( Sander canadense ) has been described but transformation into juvenile mussels following parasitism of this host has not been verified. ^{[4] : 14916}

Common names used historically to refer to P. cyphyus include clear profit and bullhead. ^[4]

Individuals fresh from the water

References

1. Bogan, A.E.; Cummings, K. (2014). "Plethobasus cyphyus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014 e.T17624A19690732. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T17624A19690732.en . Retrieved 7 June 2023.
2. NatureServe (2 June 2023). "Plethobasus cyphyus". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe . Retrieved 7 June 2023.
3. "Sheepnose Mussel (Plethobasus cyphyus)". Environmental Conservation System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
4. 77 FR 14914