Forkshell

The forkshell or Lewis pearly mussel, scientific name Epioblasma lewisii, was a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.

Forkshell
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Unionida
Family: Unionidae
Genus: Epioblasma
Species:
†E. lewisii
Binomial name
†Epioblasma lewisii
(Walker, 1910)
Synonyms

Dysnomia lewisii Walker, 1910

This species was endemic to the drainages of the Cumberland River and the Tennessee River in the United States, with one specimen reported from the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio.[2] Its natural habitat was shallow riffle-beds of large rivers.[2] This habitat was largely destroyed by dam construction and canalization, and the last populations of this species died sometime during the middle of the 20th century. Only a single museum specimen was collected that preserved the internal soft tissues.

It appears to be closely related to Epioblasma flexuosa, which is also now extinct.

References
  1. Bogan, A.E.; et al. (Mollusc Specialist Group) (2000). "Epioblasma lewisii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2000: e.T7892A12862418. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T7892A12862418.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. NatureServe (7 April 2023). "Epioblasma lewisii". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 22 April 2023.


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