# Fusconaia flava

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Species of bivalve

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Fusconaia flava Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Secure (NatureServe)[2] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Order: Unionida Family: Unionidae Genus: Fusconaia Species: F. flava Binomial name Fusconaia flava (Rafinesque, 1820)

***Fusconaia flava***, the **Wabash pigtoe**, is a freshwater mussel in the family [Unionidae](/source/Unionidae). This species occurs in southern Manitoba and Ontario, Canada as well as in the eastern and midwestern United States from North Dakota to New York, south to Mississippi and Texas.[2]

## Description

The shell is divided into two valves that are hinged. *Fusconaia flava* shell is thick and can be compressed or inflated, has a triangular to an elongate triangle shape. Nacre (the inside layer of the shell) is white, but sometimes the nacre can be pink or salmon color.

## Life cycle

*Fusconaia flava* males release sperm and the females collect the sperm through the incurrent siphon. The eggs are fertilized internally. *Fusconaia flava* has a parasitic larva stage called glochidia, the mussels use a lure to attract fish and then release the glochidia when the fish is close enough. The glochidia latch onto the gills or fins of the fish and remain there feeding of the blood of the fish until the glochidia reach the juvenile stage. Known host species for *Fusconaia flava* include silver shiner (*[Notropis photogenis](/source/Notropis_photogenis)*) and creek chub (*[Semotilus atromaculatus](/source/Semotilus_atromaculatus)*). Parent mussel provides no care once the glochidia are released. Fusconaia flava are filter feeders, waste is released through the excurrent siphon. They are sedentary creatures and are anchored to the substrate or buried in the substrate.

## Habitat

*Fusconaia flava* can be found in lotic habitat anywhere from small streams to large rivers, and can handle various types of substrate including mud, sand, or gravel. Although *Fusconaia flava* is of least conservation concern, nineteen percent of Kentucky mussels have become extinct or extirpated from Kentucky due to habitat loss.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-IUCN_1-0)** Cummings, K.; Cordeiro, J. (2011). ["*Fusconaia flava*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/189275/8710330). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2011** e.T189275A8710330. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T189275A8710330.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T189275A8710330.en). Retrieved 9 January 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-natureserve_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-natureserve_2-1) [NatureServe](/source/NatureServe). ["*Fusconia flava*"](https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.121049/). *NatureServe Explorer*. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 24 November 2024.

- Cicerello, R., and Schuster, G. (2003) A Guide to the Freshwater Mussels of Kentucky. Kentucky state Nature Preserves Commission Scientific and Technical Series Number 7.

- O'Dee, S., and Watters, T., (1998) New or Confirmed Host Identifications for Ten Freshwater Mussels. Conservation, Captive Care, and Propagation of Freshwater Mussels Symposium. Pages 77-82

Taxon identifiers Fusconaia flava Wikidata: Q3789884 BOLD: 30956 CoL: 6K4KF EoL: 449590 GBIF: 2288191 iNaturalist: 125536 IRMNG: 11237486 ISC: 110498 ITIS: 80041 IUCN: 189275 NAS: 2236 NatureServe: 2.121049 NCBI: 96912 Open Tree of Life: 376860 WoRMS: 857310

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