The James River spinymussel (''Parvaspina collina''), also known as the Virginia spinymussel,
[ is a ]species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of freshwater mussel
Freshwater bivalves are one kind of freshwater mollusc, along with freshwater snails. They are bivalves that live in fresh water as opposed to salt water, which is the main habitat type for bivalves.
The majority of species of bivalve molluscs ...
in the family Unionidae
The Unionidae are a family of freshwater mussels, the largest in the order Unionida, the bivalve molluscs sometimes known as river mussels, or simply as unionids.
The range of distribution for this family is world-wide. It is at its most diverse ...
, the river mussels. This species is native to North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
, Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, and West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
in the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
.endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...
of the United States.[ It was formerly placed in '']Pleurobema
''Pleurobema'' is a genus of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.
Species
Species within the genus ''Pleurobema'' include:
* '' Pleurobema altum'' (Highnut)
* '' Pleurobema avellanum'' (Hazel ...
'' but in 2017, Perkins, Johnson & Gangloff placed the species into a new genus '' Parvaspina'' on account of genetic data and its lateral spines.
References
External links
* Hove, M. C. and R. J. Neves. (1994)
Life history of the endangered James spinymussel ''Pleurobema collina'' (Conrad, 1837) (Mollusca: Unionidae).
''American Malacological Bulletin'' 11(1):29–40. Retrieved 10 April 2023 via Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center at Virginia Tech.
Parvaspina
Bivalves described in 1837
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
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