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Pleuronaia dolabelloides

(I. Lea, 1840)

Slabside Pearlymussel

G2Imperiled Found in 8 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
EndangeredIUCN
Very high - highThreat Impact
Slabside Pearlymussel (Pleuronaia dolabelloides). 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.2.106952
Element CodeIMBIV25010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
IUCNEndangered
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassBivalvia
OrderUnionoida
FamilyUnionidae
GenusPleuronaia
Synonyms
Lexingtonia dolabelloides(I. Lea, 1840)Lexingtonia dolabelloides conradi(Vanatta, 1915)Lexingtonia dolabelloides dolabelloides(I. Lea, 1840)
Other Common Names
Slab-sided Naiad (EN) Slab-sided Pearly Mussel (EN)
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
Lexingtonia was based on the anatomical characters of "Unio subplanus Conrad, 1837" (see Ortmann, 1914). Subsequently, Ortmann (1918) included dolabelloides in this genus. There are only two species formerly classified in Lexingtonia, representing a rather unique, disjunct geographic distribution (Cumberlandian region vs. coastal drainage of Virginia). Although similar to and formerly classified in Pleurobema, Lexingtonia (now Pleuronaia) is distinguished from the latter by its red, subcylindrical glochidial conglutinates and wavy beak sculpture. Pleuronaia dolabelloides has historically been treated as a member of the genus Fusconaia despite differences from other members of the genus (Ortmann, 1917; 1918). Bogan et al. (unpublished) found Lexingtonia subplana is synonymous with Fusconaia masoni and since L. subplana is the type species for the genus, Lexingtonia becomes a synonym of Fusconaia. The next available generic name for barnesiana and dolabelloides is Pleuronaia Frierson, 1927. Pleurobema gibberum was also found to belong to the Pleuronaia clade (see Williams et al., 2008). Pleuronaia dolabelloides exhibits ecophenotypic variation. Shell inflation increases progressively as a function of increasing stream size. Compressed forms found in creeks and smaller rivers were designated Pleuronaia dolabelloides conradi (Vanatta, 1915); inflated dolabelloides s.s. were found in larger habitats (see Ortmann, 1918). Ortmann (1920) determined the "two forms pass gradually into each other". Although previously used in a subspecific context, such designation is not consistent with current systematic interpretations
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-01-05
Change Date2000-08-29
Edition Date2024-01-05
Edition AuthorsGordon, M.E and M. Morrison (2000); rev. J. Cordeiro (2009); rev. T. Cornelisse (2024)
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
This species has a moderate range and due to long-term population declines and many ongoing threats, there are a limited number of viable occurrences.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in the Tennessee River drainage of the Ohio River Basin in Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, USA (USFWS 2021).
Occurrences Comments
This species is known from 14 extant occurrences, using records from 1990-2021 (USFWS 2021).
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened by coal mining and the heavy metal and chemical pollutants that result from those activities, dams or other barriers that alter its habitat and prevent habitat connectivity and recolonization, and habitat alteration due to climate change, including increased water temperatures and drought (USFWS 2021).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Shell solid to heavy, subtriangular, compressed to inflated; anterior margin subtruncated, flatly rounded; ventral margin convex; posterior margin obliquely convex, joining ventral margin in a ventrally directed point (often blunt) at the terminus of the posterior ridge, posterio-dorsal junction often barely perceivable; beaks elevated, inclined forward, positioned in the anterior 10% of shell length, sculpted with fine irregularly wavy ridges; shell widest subcentrally, forming a broadly rounded radial ridge from the beak to the ventral margin, slope to posterior ridge flat; posterior ridge lower but distinct, subangular, convex; periostracum yellowish to brown with variously scattered narrow to wide dark green rays, rays appear broken or as blotches due to distinctly elevated termini of annual growth increments. Pseudocardinal teeth moderately large, elevated, rough, double in left valve, single in right with small denticles anterior and posterior to contiguous sulci; interdentum moderately wide, short; lateral teeth long, curved, double in left valve, single in right but may develop a smaller incomplete lamella along ventral margin of hinge plate; anterior muscle scars distinct, small, moderately deep; pallial line impressed, lighter posteriorly; posterior muscle scars distinct, impressed; beak cavity moderately developed; nacre white, may be tinged with yellow, some iridescence posteriorly.

Habitat

This species is found in large creeks to medium rivers with sand, fine gravel, and cobble substrates in relatively shallow riffles and shoals with moderate current (Parmalee and Bogan 1998).

Reproduction

This species is a short-term, summer brooder and females are gravid from May until August with ectobranchous marsupia (Neves 1991; Kitchell 1985).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
GeorgiaS1Yes
KentuckySXYes
TennesseeS2Yes
MississippiS1Yes
VirginiaS2Yes
AlabamaS1Yes
North CarolinaSXYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionLarge - restrictedSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.2 - Industrial & military effluentsLarge - restrictedSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (8)
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Tennessee (2)
AreaForestAcres
Little Frog Addition NECherokee National Forest321
Little Frog Addition NWCherokee National Forest628
Virginia (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beartown Addition AJefferson National Forest1,370
Beartown Addition BJefferson National Forest2,985
Garden MountainJefferson National Forest3,960
Hunting Camp Little Wolf CreekJefferson National Forest8,953
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