# Oyster mussel

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Species of bivalve

Oyster mussel Conservation status Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[1] Endangered (ESA)[2][3] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Order: Unionida Family: Unionidae Genus: Epioblasma Species: E. capsaeformis Binomial name Epioblasma capsaeformis (I. Lea, 1834) Synonyms Dysnomia capsaeformis I. Lea, 1834

The **oyster mussel** (***Epioblasma capsaeformis***) is a rare [species](/source/Species) of [freshwater mussel](/source/Freshwater_mussel) in the family [Unionidae](/source/Unionidae). This [aquatic](/source/Aquatic_animal) [bivalve](/source/Bivalve) [mollusk](/source/Mollusk) is native to the [Cumberland](/source/Cumberland_River) and [Tennessee River](/source/Tennessee_River) systems of [Kentucky](/source/Kentucky), [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee), [Alabama](/source/Alabama), and [Virginia](/source/Virginia) in the United States.[4] It has been [extirpated](/source/Local_extinction) from the states of [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state))[5] and [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina).[6] It is a federally listed [endangered species](/source/Endangered_species) of the United States.[2]

This mussel was once widely distributed[7] and common.[5] It has declined 80% from its historical abundance.[1] It is now extirpated from the Cumberland River system and the main artery of the Tennessee River. It remains in the [Nolichucky River](/source/Nolichucky_River) of Tennessee and the [Clinch River](/source/Clinch_River) in Tennessee and Virginia.[7] Specimens once classified as this species that remain in the [Duck River](/source/Duck_River_(Tennessee)) in Tennessee have now been classified as a separate species, *[Epioblasma ahlstedti](/source/Epioblasma_ahlstedti)*.[8][9]

This mussel is elliptical or obovate in shape and reaches a maximum length of 70 mm. The posterior end of males protrudes slightly, while females are more rounded. The [periostracum](/source/Periostracum) is sunshiny, yellowish green, with green rays over the entire shell. The [nacre](/source/Nacre) color is bluish-white to creamy.[4]

A gravid female oyster mussel in the [Nolichucky River](/source/Nolichucky_River) in eastern [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee) displays a vivid blue lure to attract fish into whose gills she will release her parasitic larvae.

Like other freshwater mussels, this species is reproduces by releasing its larvae, termed [glochidia](/source/Glochidium), which lodge in the gills of fish to develop into juvenile mussels.[10] Host fish species for this mussel include [wounded darter](/source/Etheostoma_vulneratum) (*Etheostoma vulneratum*), [redline darter](/source/Etheostoma_rufilineatum) (*E. rufilineatum*), [bluebreast darter](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Etheostoma_camarum&action=edit&redlink=1) (*Etheostoma camarum*), [dusky darter](/source/Percina_sciera) (*Percina sciera*), [banded sculpin](/source/Cottus_carolinae) (*Cottus carolinae*), [black sculpin](/source/Cottus_baileyi) (*Cottus baileyi*), and [mottled sculpin](/source/Cottus_bairdi) (*Cottus bairdi*).[7] This mussel is known as a long term brooder, or bradytictic, meaning it spawns in late summer or fall and releases its larvae in early spring.[4]

The main threat to this species is habitat alteration such as [channelization](/source/River_engineering#Channelization) and [impoundments](/source/Dam) of waterways, increased [silt](/source/Silt), and pollution.[5]

This mussel is propagated in captivity.[10] Many juveniles have been released into appropriate habitat.[7]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_17_November_2021_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_17_November_2021_1-1) Cummings, K.; Cordeiro, J. (2012). ["*Epioblasma capsaeformis*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7866/3143774). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2012** e.T7866A3143774. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T7866A3143774.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T7866A3143774.en). Retrieved 17 November 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ecos_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ecos_2-1) ["Oyster mussel (*Epioblasma capsaeformis*)"](https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/2099). *Environmental Conservation Online System*. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** 62 [FR](/source/Federal_Register) [1647](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/62-FR-1647)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_4-2) E., Bogan, Arthur; Farms, American Pearl (1998). *The freshwater mussels of Tennessee*. University of Tennessee Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-57233-013-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-57233-013-9). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [37980671](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/37980671).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tnc_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tnc_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-tnc_5-2) [*Epioblasma capsaeformis*.](http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Epioblasma+capsaeformis) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071003223133/http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Epioblasma+capsaeformis) 2007-10-03 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) The Nature Conservancy.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nc_6-0)** USFWS. [Oyster mussel in North Carolina.](https://www.fws.gov/nc-es/mussel/oystermuss.html)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-five_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-five_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-five_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-five_7-3) USFWS. [*Epioblasma capsaeformis* Five-year Review.](https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc3774.pdf) July 2011

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Jones, J.W., and R.J. Neves. 2010. "Descriptions of a new species and a new subspecies of freshwater mussels, *Epioblasma ahlstedti* and *Epioblasma florentina aureola* (Bivalvia: Unionidae), in the Tennessee River drainage, USA." The Nautilus **124**(2):77-92.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-jones_9-0)** Jones, J. W., et al. (2006). [A holistic approach to taxonomic evaluation of two closely related endangered freshwater mussel species, the oyster mussel *Epioblasma capsaeformis* and tan riffleshell *Epioblasma florentina walkeri* (Bivalvia: Unionidae).](https://archive.today/20130415202552/http://mollus.oxfordjournals.org/content/72/3/267.short) *J. Mollus. Stud.* 72 (3): 267-283.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vincie_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vincie_10-1) Vincie, M. E. (2008) [Development of a suitable diet for endangered juvenile oyster mussels *Epioblasma capsaeformis* (Bivalvia: Unionidae) reared in a captive environment.](http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36396) Master's Thesis. Virginia Tech.

Taxon identifiers Epioblasma capsaeformis Wikidata: Q308039 Wikispecies: Epioblasma capsaeformis BOLD: 31229 CoL: 6G7JV ECOS: 2099 EoL: 449346 GBIF: 2288229 iNaturalist: 57811 IRMNG: 10922478 ITIS: 80306 IUCN: 7866 NatureServe: 2.118984 NCBI: 193532 Open Tree of Life: 675714 WoRMS: 857293 Unio capsaeformis Wikidata: Q109546299 CoL: 7DJFR GBIF: 7526150 ITIS: 985948

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