Sphaerium nucleus

Sphaerium nucleus is a freshwater bivalve of the family Sphaeriidae. It has been often confused with Sphaerium corneum and is consequently quite poorly known.[1]

Sphaerium nucleus

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Subclass: Heterodonta
Order: Sphaeriida
Family: Sphaeriidae
Genus: Sphaerium
Species:
S. nucleus
Binomial name
Sphaerium nucleus
(Studer, 1820)[2]
Synonyms
  • Sphaerium corneum var. nucleus
  • Cyclas nucleus Studer, 1820

Description

Sphaerium nucleus is a very small bivalve which may grow up to 8mm in width and length. It differs from Sphaerium corneum only in details. Like almost all bivalves, it is a filter-feeder.

Taxonomy

Sphaerium nucleus was described by Studer 1820, who placed it in the genus Cyclas. It was later thought to be a subspecies of Sphaerium corneum. Subsequently it was raised to a full species again as Sphaerium nucleus (Studer, 1820) due to its having a different form of kidney, and the shell having a broad hinge plate, dense porosity and more tumid shells with broad umbones. Unlike S. corneum it has a preference for temporary habitats.[3]

Distribution

S. nucleus occurs widely in Europe, from Spain to Ukraine. It appears to be absent from Russia.[1]

Ecology

This species lives in standing freshwater habitats, specifically in swampy conditions in drainage ditches and occasionally in lake margins, including temporary lakes.[1]

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References
  1. Killeen, I. & Seddon, M.B. (2011). "Sphaerium nucleus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T155874A4859030.
  2. Studer, S. 1820. Kurzes Verzeichniss der bis jetzt in unserm Vaterlande entdeckten Conchylien. - Naturwissenschaftlicher Anzeiger der Allgemeinen Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften 3 (11): 83-90, 91-94. Bern.
  3. Korniushin, A.V. 2001: Taxonomic revision of the genus Sphaerium s. l. in the Palaearctic region, with some notes on the North American species. Arch. Molluskenk. 129: 77–122.
  4. http://ipp.boku.ac.at/private/wf/Check_List_of_Austrian_Mollusca.html etzte Änderung am 24.10.2005. Cited March 24, 2007
  5. Anderson, R. 2005, An Annotated List of the Non-Marine Mollusca of Britain and Ireland, Journal of Conchology, London, 38: 607-638.
  6. Killeen, I.J., Aldridge, D.C. & Oliver, P.G., 2004. Freshwater bivalves of Britain and Ireland. Field Studies Occasional Publication 82. FSC Publications, Shrewsbury. 114pp.
  7. (in Czech) Horsák M., Juřičková L., Beran L., Čejka T. & Dvořák L. (2010). "Komentovaný seznam měkkýšů zjištěných ve volné přírodě České a Slovenské republiky. [Annotated list of mollusc species recorded outdoors in the Czech and Slovak Republics]". Malacologica Bohemoslovaca, Suppl. 1: 1-37. PDF.
  8. Kořínková T., 2006: The first reliable records of Sphaerium nucleus (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae) in the Czech Republic. Acta Soc. Zool. Bohem. 69: 293-297. ISSN 1211-376X pdf
  9. Glöer P. & Meier-Brook C., 2003: Süsswassermollusken. DJN, pp. 134, page 109, ISBN 3-923376-02-2
  10. AnimalBase :: Sphaerium nucleus species homepage
  11. Košel V., 2006: The first record of Sphaerium nucleus (Bivalvia) in Slovakia. Biologia. Vol. 61, No. 5, page 524
  12. Pripyat Marshes of Ukraine, RGS 1998 Ralph Brown Expedition: report by Dr O.V. Korniushin http://www.minter.demon.co.uk/brown/results/korniush.htm
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