Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Finelined Pocketbook

Hamiota altilis

(Conrad, 1834)

Finelined Pocketbook

G3Vulnerable Found in 9 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
EndangeredIUCN
HighThreat Impact
Finelined pocketbook (Hamiota altilis). Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Public Domain (U.S. Government Work), via ECOS.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.117227
Element CodeIMBIV21010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
IUCNEndangered
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassBivalvia
OrderUnionoida
FamilyUnionidae
GenusHamiota
Synonyms
Lampsilis altilis(Conrad, 1834)
Concept Reference
Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione, and J. D. Williams. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks. 2nd Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26, Bethesda, Maryland. 526 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Apparently this species has been listed as Lampsilis clarkiana in the literature more often than as Lampsilis altilis. Hanley (1983) was the first to indicate L. altilis may belong to a different genus rather than Lampsilis and that L. altilis is distinct from Lampsilis perovalis, but probably identification of the two taxa have been confused in the literature. Distinct shell morphology in the form L. clarkiana may warrant genetic evaluation in comparison to typical L. altilis (James D. Williams, pers. comm. 10/10/97). Lampsilis altilis, Lampsilis perovalis, Lampsilis subangulata, and Lampsilis australis have been placed into the new genus Hamiota (Roe and Hartfield, 2005).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-12-29
Change Date2023-12-29
Edition Date2023-12-29
Edition AuthorsT. Cornelisse
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
This species has experienced historical population declines and continues to be subject to many threats and, although the number of known populations has increased in recent years, many remain small and isolated.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in the Mobile River basin of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee (Williams et al. 2008; USFWS 2019; GBIF 2023).
Occurrences Comments
This species is known from 59 occurrences using a 2 km separation distance and records from 2000-2022 and from more than 40 rivers, creeks, and their tributaries (USFWS 2019; GBIF 2023).
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened by sedimentation, nutrient, and chemical pollution from land conversion activities, including agriculture, oil and gas operations, and coal mining, dams and water diversions that change hydrological conditions, host fish distribution, and prevent habitat connectivity and recolonization, and habitat alteration due to climate change, including increased water temperatures and drought (USFWS 2008, 2019).
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

It can be distinguished from Lampsilis perovalis, a similar species, by its more elongate shape, thinner shell, white nacre, pointed posterior and ray orientation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1993).

Habitat

This species is found in small creeks to large rivers with moderate to high gradients and sand, grave, and gravel-cobble substrates without heavy silt deposition (USFWS 2019).

Reproduction

This species is a long-term brooder (USFWS 2019).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
AlabamaS2Yes
GeorgiaS2Yes
TennesseeS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
3 - Energy production & miningRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
3.1 - Oil & gas drillingRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
3.2 - Mining & quarryingRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

—

Roadless Areas (9)
Alabama (4)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Cheaha ATalladega National Forest236
Cheaha BTalladega National Forest741
Oakey MountainTalladega National Forest6,129
Georgia (5)
AreaForestAcres
Foster BranchChattahoochee National Forest171
Indian Grave GapChattahoochee National Forest1,020
Ken MountainChattahoochee National Forest527
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Rocky MountainChattahoochee National Forest4,269
References (40)
  1. Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society (FMCS). 2023. The 2023 checklist of freshwater bivalves (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) of the United States and Canada. Considered and approved by the Bivalve Names Subcommittee October 2023. Online: https://molluskconservation.org/MServices_Names-Bivalves.html
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2023. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2023).
  3. Graf, D.L. and K.S. Cummings. 2021. A 'big data' approach to global freshwater mussel diversity (Bivalvia: Unionoida), with an updated checklist of genera and species. Journal of Molluscan Studies 87(1):1-36.
  4. Haag, W. R. 2019. Reassessing enigmatic mussel declines in the United States. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 22(2):43-60.
  5. Haag, W.R., M.L. Warren, and M. Shillingsford. 1997. Identification of host fishes for <i>Lampsiis altilis</i> and <i>Villosa vibex</i>. Triannual Unionid Report, 12: 13.
  6. Hanley, R.W. 1983. Observations on <i>Lampsilis altilis</i> (Conrad ) and <i>L. perovalis</i> (Conrad) from the Mobile River system. American Malacological Bulletin, 1: 94.
  7. Howard, A. D. 1915. Some exceptional cases of breeding among the Unionidae. The Nautilus 29:4-11.
  8. Johnson, P.D., C. St. Aubin, and S.A. Ahlstedt. 2005. Freshwater mussel survey results for the Cherokee and Chattahoochee districts of the United States Forest Service in Tennessee and Georgia. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Daphne, Alabama. 32 pp.
  9. Jones, R.L., W.T. Slack, and P.D. Hartfield. 2005. The freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionidae) of Mississippi. Southeastern Naturalist, 4(1): 77-92.
  10. Lefevre, G. and W. T. Curtis. 1912. Studies on the reproduction and artificial propagation of fresh-water mussels. Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries 30:102-201.
  11. McGregor, S.W., P.E. O'Neil, and J.M. Pierson. 2000. Status of the freshwater mussel (Bivalvia: Unionidae) fauna of the Cahaba River system, Alabama. Walkerana, 11(26): 215-237.
  12. Mirarchi, R.E., J.T. Garner, M.F. Mettee, and P.E. O'Neil. 2004b. Alabama wildlife. Volume 2. Imperiled aquatic mollusks and fishes. University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. xii + 255 pp.
  13. MolluscaBase eds. 2024. MolluscaBase. Accessed at https://www.molluscabase.org
  14. Moyle, P., and J. Bacon. 1969. Distribution and abundance of molluscs in a fresh water environment. Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science 35(2/3):82-85.
  15. Parmalee, P.W. and A.E. Bogan. 1998. The Freshwater Mussels of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press: Knoxville, Tennessee. 328 pp.
  16. Roe, K.J. and P.D. Hartfield. 2005. <i>Hamiota</i>, a new genus of freshwater mussel (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from the Gulf of Mexico drainages of the southeastern United States. The Nautilus, 119(1): 1-10.
  17. Shelton, Douglas N. Alabama Malacological Research Center, Mobile, AL. Personal communication.
  18. Strayer, D. 1983. The effects of surface geology and stream size on freshwater mussel (Bivalvia, Unionidae) distribution in southeastern Michigan, U.S.A. Freshwater Biology 13:253-264.
  19. Strayer, D. L. 1999. Use of flow refuges by unionid mussels in rivers. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 18(4):468-476.
  20. Strayer, D. L., and J. Ralley. 1993. Microhabitat use by an assemblage of stream-dwelling unionaceans (Bivalvia) including two rare species of <i>Alasmidonta</i>. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 12(3):247-258.
  21. Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione, and J. D. Williams. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks. 2nd Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26, Bethesda, Maryland. 526 pp.
  22. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2019. Finelined pocketbook Recovery Plan Amendment. Atlanta, Georgia. 6 pp.
  23. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1993. Endangered status for eight freshwater mussels and threatened status for three freshwater mussels in the Mobil River drainage. Final rule. Federal Register, 58(60): 14330-14340.
  24. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1997. Draft Recovery Plan for the Mobile River basin aquatic ecosystem. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Atlanta, Georgia.
  25. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2000. Recovery plan for the Mobile River basin aquatic ecosystem. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, Atlanta, Georgia. 128 pp.
  26. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2003. Endangered and Threatened Widlife and plants; proposed designation of critical habitat for three threatened mussels and eight endangered mussels in the Mobile River basin; proposed rule. Federal Register, 68(58): 14752-14832.
  27. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2004. Endangered and Threatened Widlife and plants; designation of critical habitat for three threatened mussels and eight endangered mussels in the Mobile River basin; final rule. Federal Register, 69(126): 40083-40171.
  28. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2008. Fine-lined pocketbook (<i>Hamiota </i>(=<i>Lampsilis</i>) <i>altilis</i>), orange-nacre mucket (<i>Hamiota </i>(=<i>Lampsilis</i>) <i>perovalis</i>), Alabama moccasinshell (<i>Medionidus acutissimus</i>) Coosa moccasinshell (<i>Medionidus parvulus</i>), Southern clubshell (<i>Pleurobema decisum</i>), dark pigtoe (<i>Pleurobema furvum</i>), southern pigtoe (<i>Pleurobema georgianum</i>), ovate clubshell (<i>Pleurobema perovatum</i>), triangular kidneyshell (<i>Ptychobranchus greenii</i>), upland combshell (<i>Epioblama metastriata</i>), and southern acornshell (<i>Epioblasma othcaloogensis</i>), 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Jackson, MS. 37pp.
  29. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2019a. Finelined Pocketbook (<i>Hamiota</i> (=<i>Lampsilis</i>) <i>altilis</i>), Orangenacre Mucket (<i>Hamiota</i> (=<i>Lampsilis</i>) <i>perovalis</i>), Alabama Moccasinshell (<i>Medionidus acutissimus</i>), Coosa Moccasinshell (<i>Medionidus parvulus</i>), Southern Clubshell (<i>Pleurobema decisum</i>), Dark Pigtoe (<i>Pleurobema furvum</i>), Southern Pigtoe (<i>Pleurobema georgianum</i>), Ovate Clubshell (<i>Pleurobema perovatum</i>, Triangulua Clubshell (<i>Pleurobema greenii</i>), 5-year review: summary and evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Atlantic-Gulf Region (Region 2), Alabama Ecological Services Field Office, Daphne, Alabama. 69 pp.
  30. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Technical Amendments for Southeastern Mussels, Snails, and a Reptile. Federal Register 87(33):8960-8967.
  31. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 67 Southeastern Species. Notice of initiation of reviews; <br/>request for information. Federal Register 88(91): 30324-30328.
  32. van der Schalie, H. 1938c. The naiades (fresh-water mussels) of the Cahaba River in northern Alabama. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Occasional Papers 392: 1-29.
  33. Van der Schalie, H. 1938. The naiad fauna of the Huron River in southeastern Michigan. Miscellaneous Publication of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 40:7-78.
  34. van der Schalie, H. 1981. Mollusks in the Alabama River drainage: past and present. Sterkiana, 71: 24-40.
  35. Vaughn, C.C. 2018. Ecosystem services provided by freshwater mussels. Hydrobiologia, 810: 15-27.
  36. Watters, G. T. 1992. Unionids, fishes, and the species-area curve. Journal of Biogeography 19:481-490.
  37. Williams, J.D., A.E. Bogan, and J.T. Garner. 2008. Freshwater Mussels of Alabama & the Mobile Basin in Georgia, Mississippi & Tennessee. University of Alabama Press: Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 908 pp.
  38. Williams, J. D., A. E. Bogan, R. S. Butler, K. S. Cummings, J. T. Garner, J. L. Harris, N. A. Johnson, and G. T. Watters. 2017. A revised list of the freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) of the United States and Canada. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 20:33-58.
  39. Williams, J.D. and M.H. Hughes. 1998. Freshwater mussels of selected reaches of the main channel rivers in the Coosa drainage of Georgia. U.S. Geological report to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, Alabama. 21 pp.
  40. Williams, J. D., M. L. Warren, Jr., K. S. Cummings, J. L. Harris, and R. J. Neves. 1993. Conservation status of freshwater mussels of the United States and Canada. Fisheries 18(9):6-22.