Southern Acornshell 
 
Advertisement
 
Scientific Name:
Epioblasma othcaloogensis
Other Names and/or Listed subspecies:
Southern Acorn Riffle Shell, Dysnomia othcaloogensis
Group:
Clams
Status/Date Listed as Endangered:
EN-US FWS: March 17, 1993
CR-IUCN: 1996
Area(s) Where Listed As Endangered:
Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee

The southern acornshell is a small mussel originally found in the Coosa and Conasauga Rivers of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. The last specimen was collected in 1974, and according to recent surveys, the species may be extinct. The size of the mussel reaches about 1.2 inches in length, and it has a round to oval shape. Female mussels possess a distinctive, swollen posterior ridge, allowing the differentiation between males and females. The outer shell is shiny, smooth and yellow in appearance.

Southern acornshells are freshwater mussels and can only thrive in large creeks and small rivers with rock and gravel substrate. Young mussels are born as "glochidia" (larvae) until they undergo metamorphosis into mussels. As larvae, they develop by attaching themselves to fishes for a short life as parasites. The process is further complicated because not only do the glochidia have to find a fish, but it has to be one of several fish species for the life cycle to continue. The main host fish of this species is unknown. As mussels, they attach themselves to the river floors and feed on plankton and detritus that they are able to filter from the water using specialized regions of their shells. The water is filtered over the gills and the food particles become trapped and eventually digested. Males release sperm into the water when the current is strong enough, allowing the sperm to travel and reach the eggs inside the shells of females. The fertilized eggs then develop into glochidia and grow inside the shell of the female until released into the water. In order to completely develop as mussels the larvae must find the host fish and attach themselves to its gills.

The southern acornshell has a very limited range of occurrence, and like many other mussels, its numbers have declined due to loss of suitable habitat and sedimentation or pollution of the water.


Featured Article

Ten creatures that may become extinct in the next 10 years
1. Leatherback Sea Turtle
Leatherback sea turtles have been around since pre-historic times. And unfortunately, if the species is allowed to vanish, scientists believe it will foreshadow the extinction of a host of other marine species. It is estimated that there are less than 5,000 nesting female leatherback sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean today, down from 91,000 in 1980.

Read More...


Advertisement


Endangered Species of Our Planet

Donate, Adopt, Get Involved

EEC Conservation Directory
Donate

Mailing List

Would you like to receive a notice and link when the new Creature Feature is posted?

Enter your e-mail address below:

 

Fun & Games

Are you inspired by endangered animals? Check out our games and coloring pages! More to come soon.
color endangered creatures
play hangman