Freshwater Mussels of Texas

by Howells, Robert G.; Neck, Raymond W.; Murray, Harold D.; Texas Inland Fisheries Division

• ISBN13: 9781885696106
• ISBN10: 1885696108
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-10-01
• Publisher: Texas Parks & Wildlife Pr

Summary

Freshwater mussels of the family Unionidae, also known as naiads, have inhabited fresh waters around the world for the last 400 million years. Here in Texas, the presence of these unique mollusks ensures our water quality, helps support the worldwide pearl industry, and, in a quirk of history, influenced the founding of San Angelo. Yet their continued survival is by no means certain, due to overharvesting, environmental degradation, and the rapid spread of exotic mussel species. To help professional biologists and amateur naturalists know and preserve these mollusks, this book provides baseline reference material for all 52 species of freshwater mussels in Texas. It focuses particularly on the unionids, with brief descriptions of other freshwater bivalves. A typical entry includes the following information: Scientific and common names Distribution (with a range map) Size / Shell / Shell teeth External color / Internal color Soft tissues / Habitat / Spawning Glochidia / Hosts Economic importance Comments Color photos illustrate each species. In addition to the descriptions, the authors offer general discussions of freshwater mussel anatomy, biology, ecology, and commercial uses.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

About This Guide

Anatomy-

Shell

Soft Tissues

Shell Muscles

Mantle

Foot

Other Soft Tissues

Biology-

Reproduction-

Sexuality

Maturity (Size and Age)

General Mode of Reproduction

Spawning, Egg Deposition, and Incubation

Spawning Season

Glochidia and Parasitism

Juveniles

Habitat-

Water Body Types

Bottom Types

Current

Water Depth

Water Chemistry and Clarity

Aquatic Vegetation

Associated Animals

Natural Transport and Relocation

Transport and Relocation by Man

Feeding and Food

Growth

Behavior-

Movement

Over-wintering and Drought Tolerance

Responses to Stimuli

Parasites, Diseases, Predators, Abnormalities

Ecology-

Abundance

Factors Affecting Reproduction

Factors Affecting Natality, Recruitment, and Mortality

Importance in the Ecosystem

Exploitation and Commercial Importance-

Prehistorical and Historical Harvest

Current Harvest in Texas

Collection Methods, Gear, and Regulations

Uses-

Shells

Pearls

Meat

Live Pearl-culture Mussels

Biogeography in Texas

Freshwater Mussels (Family: Unionidae)-

Threeridge (Amblema plicata)

Giant Floater (Anodonta grandis)

Paper Pondshell (Anodonta imbecillis)

Flat Floater (Anodonta suborbiculata)

Rock-Pocketbook (Arcidens confragosus)

Ouachtta Rock-Pocketbook (Arkansia wheeleri)

Tampico Pearlymussel (Cyrtonaias tampicoensis)

Spike (Elliptio dilatata)

Texas Pigtoe (Fusconaia askewi)

Wabash Pigtoe (Fusconaia flava)

Triangle Pigtoe (Fusconaia lananensis)

Round Pearlshell (Glebula rotundata)

Texas Fatmucket (Lampsilis bracteata)

Plain Pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium)

Louisiana Fatmucket (Lampsilis hydiana)

Sandbank Pocketbook (Lampsilis satura)

Yellow Sandshell (Lampsilis teres)

White Heelsplitter (Lasmigona complanata)

Fragile Papershell (Leptodea fragilis)

Pond Mussel (Ligumia subrostrata)

Washboard (Megalonaias nervosa)

Threehorn Wartyback (Obliquaria reflexa)

Southern Hickorynut (Obovaria jacksoniana)

Bankclimber (Plectomerus dombeyanus)

Louisiana Pigtoe (Pleurobema riddelli)

Texas Hornshell (Popenaias popei)

Texas Heelsplitter (Potamilus amphichaenus)

Pink Papershell (Potamilus ohiensis)

Bleufer (Potamilus purpuratus)

Salina Mucket (Potamilus salinasensis)

Southern Mapleleaf (Quadrula apiculata)

Golden Orb (Quadrula aurea)

Rio Grande Monkeyface (Quadrula couchiana)

Smooth Pimpleback (Quadrula houstonensis)

Western Pimpleback (Quadrula mortoni)

Wartyback (Quadrula nodulata)

Texas Pimpleback (Quadrula petrina)

Pimpleback (Quadrula pustulosa)

Mapleleaf (Quadrula quadrula)

False Spike (Quincuncina mitchelli)

Squawfoot (Strophitus undulatus)

Lilliput (Toxolasma parvus)

Texas Lilliput (Toxolasma texasensis)

Pistolgrip (Tritogonia verrucosa)

Mexican Fawnsfoot (Truncilla cognata)

Fawnsfoot (Truncilla donaciformis)

Texas Fawnsfoot (Truncilla macrodon)

Deertoe (Truncilla truncata)

Tapered Pondhorn (Uniomerus declivis)

Pondhorn (Uniomerus tetralasmus)

Little Spectaclecase (Villosa lienosa)

Other Bivalve Mollusk Families Found in Fresh Waters-

Family: Corbiculidae-

Asian Clam (Corbicula sp(p).)

Carolina Marshclam (Polymesoda caroliniana)

Family: Mactridae-

Atlantic Rangia (Dreissena polymorpha)

Family: Dreissenidae-

Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Dark Falsemussel (Mytilopsis leucophaeata)

Family: Sphaeriidae-

Fingernail Clams

Glossary

References

Index

Gulf Mapleleaf (Quadrula nobilis)

Color Plates

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.