Forkshell

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Forkshell
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Unionida
Family: Unionidae
Genus: Epioblasma
Species:
E. lewisii
Binomial name
Epioblasma lewisii
(Walker, 1910)
Synonyms

Dysnomia lewisii Walker, 1910

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 Cumberland River and the Tennessee River in the United States, with one specimen reported from the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio. [2] Its natural habitat was shallow riffle-beds of large rivers. [2] This habitat was largely destroyed by dam construction and canalization, and the last populations of this species died sometime during the middle of the 20th century. Only a single museum specimen was collected that preserved the internal soft tissues.[ citation needed ]

It appears to be closely related to Epioblasma flexuosa , which is also now extinct.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern riffleshell</span> Subspecies of bivalve

The northern riffleshell is a subspecies of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This mussel is endangered and federally protected. It was proposed as a species, Epioblasma rangiana, by Williams et al. (2017).

<i>Epioblasma arcaeformis</i> Species of bivalve

Epioblasma arcaeformis, the sugarspoon or arc-form pearly mussel, was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. No live individuals have been observed since the early 20th century. The IUCN declared the arc-form pearly mussel to be extinct, publishing its new status on the 2000 Red List following an assessment in the same year.

<i>Epioblasma</i> Genus of bivalves

Epioblasma is a genus of freshwater mussels, 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 possibility of extinction.

<i>Epioblasma biemarginata</i> Species of bivalve

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oyster mussel</span> Species of bivalve

The oyster mussel is a rare species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. This aquatic bivalve mollusk is native to the Cumberland and Tennessee River systems of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia in the United States. It has been extirpated from the states of Georgia and North Carolina. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Epioblasma flexuosa</i> Species of bivalve

Epioblasma flexuosa, the arcuate pearly mussel or leafshell, was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This species was endemic to the United States, where it was found in the major drainages of the Ohio River, including the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Wabash Rivers. Its natural habitat was flowing water.

<i>Epioblasma haysiana</i> Species of bivalve

Epioblasma haysiana, the acornshell or acorn pearly mussel, was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae. It is now extinct.

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.

The upland combshell was a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. It was endemic to the upper Mobile River Basin in the southeastern United States.

Epioblasma penita, the southern combshell or penitent mussel, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.

Epioblasma personata, the round combshell or fine-rayed pearly mussel, is an extinct species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. It was endemic to the drainages of the Tennessee River and Ohio River in the United States.

<i>Epioblasma propinqua</i> Species of bivalve

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 River, and Tennessee River.

<i>Epioblasma sampsonii</i> Species of bivalve

Epioblasma sampsonii, the Wabash riffleshell or Sampson's naiad, was a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. It is now extinct.

<i>Epioblasma stewardsonii</i> Extinct species of bivalve

Epioblasma stewardsonii, the Cumberland leafshell or Steward's pearly mussel, is an extinct species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae.

<i>Epioblasma turgidula</i> Species of bivalve

Epioblasma turgidula, the turgid blossom pearly mussel, turgid riffle shell, turgid-blossom naiad or turgid blossom, was a species of freshwater mussel, a mollusk in the family Unionidae. It is now likely extinct.

<i>Pleurobema clava</i> Species of bivalve

Pleurobema clava, the clubshell, club naiad or clubshell pearly mussel, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.

Pleurobema marshalli, the flat pigtoe or Marshall's mussel, was a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. It was native to Alabama and Mississippi, but it has not been seen since 1980. Though it is still listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and as an endangered species on the US Endangered Species List, it is likely extinct.

<i>Epioblasma triquetra</i> Species of bivalve

Epioblasma triquetra, common name the snuffbox mussel, is a species of freshwater mussel, a mollusk in the family Unionidae. It is native to eastern North America, where it is a listed as an endangered species in both Canada and the United States.

<i>Epioblasma obliquata</i> Species of bivalve

Epioblasma obliquata, commonly called the catspaw, is a species of freshwater mussel. It is native to eastern North America, where it is classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

<i>Epioblasma ahlstedti</i> Species of bivalve

Epioblasma ahlstedti, commonly called the Duck River dartersnapper, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.

References

  1. Bogan, A.E.; et al. (Mollusc Specialist Group) (2000). "Epioblasma lewisii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2000: e.T7892A12862418. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T7892A12862418.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 NatureServe (7 April 2023). "Epioblasma lewisii". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 22 April 2023.