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Home/Species/ Cumberland Rockshell

Theliderma intermedia

(Conrad, 1836)

Cumberland Rockshell

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
EndangeredIUCN
Very highThreat Impact
Cumberland monkeyface (pearlymussel) (Theliderma intermedia). 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.2.116132
Element CodeIMBIV39070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
IUCNEndangered
CITESAppendix I
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassBivalvia
OrderUnionoida
FamilyUnionidae
GenusTheliderma
Synonyms
Quadrula biangulataMorrison, 1942Quadrula intermedia(Conrad, 1836)
Other Common Names
Cumberland Monkeyface (EN) Cumberland Monkey-face 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
Placed in the genus Theliderma following Williams et al. (2017). Theliderma was not recognized by Turgeon et al. (1998) but was resurrected from synonymy by Graf and Cummings (2007) to accommodate a monophyletic clade of five species recognized by Turgeon et al. (1998) under Quadrula (Q. cylindrica, Q. intermedia, Q. metanevra, Q. sparsa, and Q. stapes; see Serb et al. 2003). Theliderma is the oldest available name for this clade and has T. metanevra as its type species. Williams et al. (2017) recognize placement of all five of these species in Theliderma.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-01-09
Change Date1997-09-16
Edition Date2024-01-09
Edition AuthorsShelton, D. N. (1997); J. Cordeiro (2011); T. Cornelisse (2024)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent1000-20,000 square km (about 400-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
This species has a limited 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 Powell and Duck Rivers in Virginia and Tennessee, USA (USFWS 2021).
Occurrences Comments
This species is known from two viable occurrences (USFWS 2021).
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened by coal mining as associated sedimentation and contaminants and dams and other waterway management, including water withdrawal (USFWS 2021).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species inhabits shallow riffle and shoal areas of headwater streams and large rivers with high gradients with sand and gravel substrates (Bogan and Parmalee 1983; USFWS 1984).

Reproduction

This species is a short-term brooder and gravid females are found in May and June (USFWS 2021).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
TennesseeS1Yes
VirginiaS1Yes
AlabamaSXYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
3 - Energy production & miningLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
3.2 - Mining & quarryingLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.2 - Industrial & military effluentsLarge (31-70%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsLarge (31-70%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.3.2 - Soil erosion, sedimentationLarge (31-70%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (1)
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
References (48)
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  2. Ahlstedt, S.A. 1984. Twentieth century changes in the freshwater mussel fauna of the Clinch River (Tennessee and Virginia). M.S. Thesis, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee. 102 pp.
  3. Ahlstedt, S. A. Tennessee Valley Authority.
  4. Ahlstedt, Steven A. 1986. Activity 1: Mussel Distribution Surveys. Cumberlandian Mollusk Conservation Program. TVA.
  5. Barr, W.C., S.A. Ahlstedt, G.D. Hickman, and D.M. Hill. 1993-1994. Cumberlandian mollusk conservation program. Activity 8: Analysis of macrofauna factors. Walkerana 7(17/18):159-224.
  6. Beaty, Braven. The Nature Conservancy - Virginia Chapter, Southwest Area Steward. Abingdon, VA.
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  37. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2006. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; establishment of nonessential experimental population status for 15 freshwater mussels, 1 freshwater snail, and 5 fishes in the lower French Broad River and in the lower Holston River, Tennessee; Proposed Rule. Federal Register, 71(113): 34195-34230.
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