Theliderma intermedia

Theliderma intermedia, the Cumberland monkeyface pearly mussel or Cumberland monkeyface, is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This aquatic bivalve mollusk is native to Tennessee and Virginia in the United States. Historically widespread in the upper Tennessee River system, it populations have been reduced by habitat destruction and pollution. It now only occurs in two tributaries: the Duck and Powell Rivers.[2][3] It is a federally listed endangered species.

Theliderma intermedia

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Unionida
Family: Unionidae
Genus: Theliderma
Species:
T. intermedia
Binomial name
Theliderma intermedia
(Conrad, 1836)
Synonyms

Quadrula intermedia

This species is yellow-green or greenish yellow in color.[2] It can reach at least 35 years old.[3] Like other mussels, it has larvae called glochidia that lodge in the gills of fish to develop into juvenile mussels. Hosts for this species include the streamlined chub (Erymystax dissimilis) and blotched chub (Erymystax insignis).[2]

This mussel has been extirpated from the Elk River. There is still a population in the Powell River, and the population in the Duck River appears to be viable.[3]

References
  1. Bogan, A.E. 2000. Quadrula intermedia. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived June 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Downloaded on 7 August 2007.
  2. Quadrula intermedia. The Nature Conservancy.
  3. USFWS. Quadrula intermedia Five-year Review. July 2011.
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