Fanshell
Fanshell | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Bivalvia |
Order: | Unionida |
Family: | Unionidae |
Genus: | Cyprogenia |
Species: | C. stegaria |
Binomial name | |
Cyprogenia stegaria (Rafinesque, 1820) | |
Synonyms[4] | |
List
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The fanshell (Cyprogenia stegaria) is a species of aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae. This clam is native to the United States, where breeding populations remain in only three rivers. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.[2][3]
This clam is known to be reproducing in the Clinch River in Tennessee and Virginia, and the Green and Licking Rivers in Kentucky. There may be a small reproducing population in the Tennessee River. There also may be some small populations remaining in several states, but these are not reproducing.[5]
This species is threatened by the loss and degradation of its habitat.[3]
Reproduction
[edit]All Unionidae are known to use the gills, fins, or skin of a host fish for nutrients during the larval glochidia stage. Cyprogenia stegaria release into the water a conglutinate mimicking an Oligochaeta worm which contains the mussel's young. When a fish bites into the conglutinate lure, the young glochida are released and latch onto the fish's gills for nutrients.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Bogan, A.E. (1996). "Cyprogenia stegaria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T6184A12566234. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T6184A12566234.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Fanshell (Cyprogenia stegaria)". Environmental Conservation Online System. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ a b c 55 FR 25591
- ^ "Cyprogenia stegaria (Rafinesque, 1820)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ a b Jones, J. W. and R. J. Neves. (2002). Life history and propagation of the endangered fanshell pearlymussel, Cyprogenia stegaria Rafinesque (Bivalvia:Unionidae). Journal of the North American Benthological Society 21(1) 76–88. doi:10.2307/1468301 JSTOR 1468301