# Atlantic pigtoe

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Species of bivalve

Atlantic pigtoe Conservation status Endangered (IUCN 2.3)[1] Threatened (ESA)[2] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Order: Unionida Family: Unionidae Genus: Fusconaia Species: F. masoni Binomial name Fusconaia masoni Conrad, 1834

The **Atlantic pigtoe** (*Fusconaia masoni*) is a species of [bivalve](/source/Bivalve) in the family [Unionidae](/source/Unionidae). It is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to the [United States](/source/United_States).

It is a small freshwater mussel with a sub-[rhomboidal](/source/Rhomboid) shaped shell and an average size of 2 inches (51 mm). It prefers clean, silt-free, moderate-flowing streams with high oxygen content and gravel or coarse sand substrate. It typically occurs in headwaters in rural areas due to its preference for pristine conditions.[2]

The Atlantic pigtoe relies on fish hosts to complete its larval cycle. The female releases sticky packets of [glochidia](/source/Glochidia) (larvae) into the stream, which attach to the gills and scales of host minnows. The larvae stay attached to the fish in a [parasite](/source/Parasite) relationship until they fully develop and metamorphose into juvenile mussels, after which they drop off into the stream bed.[2]

Its current range is restricted to [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina) and [Virginia](/source/Virginia), although historically it occurred and [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(US_State)) and [South Carolina](/source/South_Carolina). It is listed as Threatened under the [Endangered Species Act](/source/Endangered_Species_Act) since 2021. Threats to the Atlantic pigtoe include habitat degradation due to water quality, water quantity, instream habitat, and habitat connectivity. As of 2019 there were 7 known populations.[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_status_16_November_2021_1-0)** Bogan, A.E. (1996). ["*Fusconaia masoni*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8781/12931171). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **1996** e.T8781A12931171. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T8781A12931171.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T8781A12931171.en). Retrieved 16 November 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fws_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fws_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-fws_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-fws_2-3) ["Atlantic pigtoe (*Fusconaia masoni*)"](https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5164). *Environmental Conservation Online System*. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 20 January 2025.

Taxon identifiers Fusconaia masoni Wikidata: Q3017505 BOLD: 154218 CoL: 6JSKJ EoL: 449334 GBIF: 2288184 iNaturalist: 101106 IRMNG: 11272006 ITIS: 80049 IUCN: 8781 NatureServe: 2.1066291 NCBI: 464319 Open Tree of Life: 382430 WoRMS: 857311

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Atlantic pigtoe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_pigtoe) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_pigtoe?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.