Inflated heelsplitter (Potamilus inflatus)
Taxonomy:
View taxonomy in ITISListing Status: Threatened
Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND
General Information
The inflated heelsplitter has an oval, compressed to moderately inflated, thin shell. The valves may gape anteriorly. The umbos are low, and there is a prominent posterior wing that may extend anterior to the beak in young individuals. The shell is brown to black and may have green rays in young individuals. The umbonal cavity is very shallow and the nacre is pink to purple. Maximum shell length is about 140 millimeters (5 1/2 inches) in adults (Stern 1976). It is most similar to the pinkpapershell (Potamilus ohioensis), yet is easily distinguished by shell morphology (Hartfield 1988). The shell and teeth of the inflated heelsplitter are more delicate, and the shell is darker and has a pointed posterior, whereas the pink papershell has a rounded posterior. The inflated heelsplitter appears more inflated due to a more developed and rounded posterior ridge. The posterior wing of the inflated heelsplitter is more pronounced and abruptly rounded over the dorsum. The pink papershell may lack much of a wing, and when pronounced, it may be only slightly rounded and extend scarcely above the dorsum (Hartfleld 1988).The species historical range included Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi. 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: Threatened
- States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi
- 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: Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge
» Candidate Information
No Candidate information available for this species.
No Candidate Assessments available for this species.
No Candidate Notice of Review Documents currently 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: 8C
No Delisting Documents currently available for this species.
» Critical Habitat
No Critical Habitat Documents currently available for this species.
» Conservation Plans
No Conservation Plans currently available for this species.
» Petitions
No Petitions currently available for this species.
» Biological Opinions
To see all FWS Issued Biological Opinions please visit the BO Report.
» Life History
Habitat Requirements
The preferred habitat of this species is soft, stable substrates in slow to moderate currents (Stern 1976). It has been found in sand, mud, silt and sandy gravel, but not in large gravel or armored gravel (Hartfield 1988). It is usually collected on the protected side of bars and may occur in depths over 20 feet. The occurrence of this species In silt may not indicate that the life cycle can be successful in that substrate (Hartfield 1988). Adult mussels may survive limited amounts of silt where juveniles would suffocate. The occurrence of this species in silt may be because it was established prior to deposition of the silt.
» 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." +
