Neosho Mucket (Lampsilis rafinesqueana)
Taxonomy:
View taxonomy in ITISListing Status: Endangered
Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND
General Information
The Neosho Mucket (Lampsilis rafinesqueana) is a freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. Frierson (1927) described the Neosho Mucket as a dimorphic (male and female shape differs) species; the male is elliptical, rounded before biangulate behind, with dorsal and basal margin equally arched, while the female is ovate with a widely expanded fanshaped posterior. The shell is up to 9.5 centimeters (cm), compressed, and relatively thin (Oesch 1984). The epidermis is oliveyellow to brown, becoming darker brown with age; green rays cover the surface, but are often discontinuous. Oesch (1984) describes the left valve as having two stout, divergent, striated, triangular pseudocardinal teeth. The two lateral teeth are short, stout, and slightly curved. The right valve has a single, tall, triangular to columnar, striated pseudocardinal tooth. The nacre (crystalline carbonate shell material of freshwater mussels) is bluish white to white.The species historical range included Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma. See below for information about where the species is known or believed to occur.
» Range Information
Current Range
Current range maps are only shown within the jurisdictional boundaries of the United States of America. The species may also occur outside this region.
Wherever found
Listing status: Endangered
- States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma
- US Counties in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: View All
- USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:
» Candidate Information
No Candidate information available for this species.
No Candidate Assessments available for this species.
No Uplisting Documents currently available for this species.
» Federal Register Documents
» Species Status Assessments (SSAs)
No Species Status Assessments (SSA's) are currently available for this species.
No Special Rule Publications currently available for this species.
» Recovery
- Species with Recovery Documents Data Explorer
- Recovery Priority Number: 5
No Delisting Documents currently available for this species.
» Critical Habitat
To learn more about critical habitat please see https://ecos.fws.gov/crithab
» Conservation Plans
» Petitions
» Biological Opinions
To see all FWS Issued Biological Opinions please visit the BO Report.
» Life History
Habitat Requirements
Little is known about habitat requirements of the Neosho Mucket. The Neosho Mucket is associated with shallow riffles and runs comprising gravel substrate and moderate to swift currents. The species is most often found in areas with swift current, but in Shoal Creek and the Illinois River it prefers near-shore areas or areas out of the main current (Oesch 1984; Obermeyer 2000).
Food Habits
Food items include algae, bacteria, detritus (disintegrated organic debris), and microscopic animals (Strayer et al. 2004, pp. 430431). It also has been surmised that dissolved organic matter may be a significant source of nutrition (Strayer et al. 2004, p. 430). Adults are filter feeders and generally orient themselves on or near the substrate surface to take in food and oxygen from the water column. Juveniles typically burrow completely beneath the substrate surface and are pedal (foot) feeders (bringing food particles inside the shell for ingestion that adhere to the foot while it is extended outside the shell) until the structures for filter feeding are more fully developed (Yeager et al. 1994, pp. 200221; Gatenby et al. 1996, p. 604).
Movement / Home Range
Sedentary. Neosho Mucket historically occurred in at least 18 streams within the Illinois, Neosho, and Verdigris River basins covering four states (Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri). It is endemic to the Arkansas River system (Gordon 1980; Harris and Gordon 1987; Obermeyer 1996; Vaughn 1996; Mather 1990; Obermeyer et al. 1997a; Harris et al. 2009).
Reproductive Strategy
Neosho Mucket glochidia are an obligate parasite on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) (Barnhart and Roberts 1997; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2005). Neosho Mucket spawns in late April and May, and female brooding occurs May through August. Barnhart (2003) reported an average fecundity to be approximately 1.3 million glochidia (larvae) per female in the Spring River, Kansas. The female Neosho Mucket inflates and extends a pair of mantle flaps (actually an extension of the inner lobe of the mantle edge) that resembles a small fish. Each mantle flap in addition to its fishlike shape has pigmentation that resembles an eyespot as well as a fishs lateral line. Muscular contractions of the mantle flaps create an undulating or swimming motion that suffices to lure fish hosts (Obermeyer 2000).
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports-- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports-- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video." +
