Epioblasma
Sign in to saveEpioblasma is a North American genus of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. Most of the species in this genus have been lost in modern times, and the entire genus is threatened with the possibility of extinction.
Species
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumMollusca
- ClassBivalvia
- OrderUnionida
- FamilyUnionidae
via GBIF
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- Epioblasma brevidens.jpg
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Article
5 sectionsContents
- Reproduction
- Taxonomy of the genus ''Epioblasma''
- Conservation status
- Gallery
- References
Epioblasma is a North American genus of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. Most of the species in this genus have been lost in modern times, and the entire genus is threatened with the possibility of extinction.
==Reproduction== All Unionidae are known to make use of the gills, fins, or skin of a host fish for nutrients during the larval glochidia stage. It was discovered in 2004 that female Epioblasma in the subgenus Torulosa transfer their parasitic larvae to the host fish by snapping onto the head of the fish and pumping the larvae into the host fish's gills. While using bait to lure host fish towards the larvae is common in the family Unionidae, this was the first time that "fish snapping" behavior had been observed. Examination of other species within the genus Epioblasma may further reveal unusual reproductive mechanisms.