Medionidus penicillatus és una espècie de mol·lusc bivalve pertanyent a la família Unionidae.
Viu als rierols grans i rius mitjans de corrents lents o moderats i de fons sorrencs o de grava.[3]
Es troba a Nord-amèrica: els Estats Units (Alabama, Florida i Geòrgia).[3][4]
Les seues principals amenaces són la degradació del seu hàbitat i la introducció de Corbicula fluminea.[2]
Medionidus penicillatus, the gulf moccasinshell, is a rare species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This aquatic bivalve mollusk is native to Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in the United States, where it is in decline and has been extirpated from most of the rivers it once inhabited.[5] It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.[2][3]
This mussel is up to 5.5 centimeters long. The shell is yellowish or greenish brown with green rays. The nacre of the shell is purplish or greenish with some iridescence.[3]
This mussel is native to the ACF River Basin, the watershed of the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers around the intersection of the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Its range has declined 80% from the known previous distribution. There are fewer than 20 occurrences and it is uncommon at most sites. It is now found in the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers and four tributaries, and Econfina Creek. It is nearly extirpated from the state of Alabama.[5]
Like other mussels, this species releases larvae called glochidia that lodge in the gills of fish to develop into juvenile mussels. The host fish for this species include Etheostoma edwini (brown darter), Percina nigrofasciata (blackbanded darter), Gambusia holbrooki (eastern mosquitofish), and Poecilia reticulata (guppy),[5] as well as Etheostoma inscriptum (turquoise darter), Etheostoma swaini (Gulf darter), and Percina crypta (Halloween darter).[6]
Medionidus penicillatus, the gulf moccasinshell, is a rare species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This aquatic bivalve mollusk is native to Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in the United States, where it is in decline and has been extirpated from most of the rivers it once inhabited. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
This mussel is up to 5.5 centimeters long. The shell is yellowish or greenish brown with green rays. The nacre of the shell is purplish or greenish with some iridescence.
This mussel is native to the ACF River Basin, the watershed of the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers around the intersection of the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Its range has declined 80% from the known previous distribution. There are fewer than 20 occurrences and it is uncommon at most sites. It is now found in the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers and four tributaries, and Econfina Creek. It is nearly extirpated from the state of Alabama.
Like other mussels, this species releases larvae called glochidia that lodge in the gills of fish to develop into juvenile mussels. The host fish for this species include Etheostoma edwini (brown darter), Percina nigrofasciata (blackbanded darter), Gambusia holbrooki (eastern mosquitofish), and Poecilia reticulata (guppy), as well as Etheostoma inscriptum (turquoise darter), Etheostoma swaini (Gulf darter), and Percina crypta (Halloween darter).
Medionidus penicillatus es una especie de molusco bivalvo de la familia Unionidae.
Es endémica de los Estados Unidos.
Su hábitat natural son: los ríos.
Medionidus penicillatus é uma espécie de bivalve da família Unionidae.
É endémica dos Estados Unidos da América.
Os seus habitats naturais são: rios.
Medionidus penicillatus é uma espécie de bivalve da família Unionidae.
É endémica dos Estados Unidos da América.