''Theliderma intermedia'', the Cumberland monkeyface pearly mussel or Cumberland monkeyface, is a
species of
freshwater mussel in the family
Unionidae, the river mussels. This
aquatic bivalve
Bivalvia (), in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class of marine and freshwater molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts. As a group, bival ...
mollusk is native to
Tennessee and
Virginia in the United States. Historically widespread in the upper
Tennessee River system, it populations have been reduced by
habitat destruction and pollution. It now only occurs in two tributaries: the
Duck and
Powell Rivers.
[''Quadrula intermedia''.]
The Nature Conservancy.[USFWS]
''Quadrula intermedia'' Five-year Review.
July 2011. It is a federally listed
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 ...
.
This species is yellow-green or greenish yellow in color.
[ It can reach at least 35 years old.][ Like other mussels, it has larvae called glochidia that lodge in the gills of fish to develop into juvenile mussels. Hosts for this species include the streamlined chub (''Erymystax dissimilis'') and blotched chub (''Erymystax insignis'').][
This mussel has been extirpated from the Elk River. There is still a population in the Powell River, and the population in the Duck River appears to be viable.][
]
References
Natural history of Tennessee
Natural history of Virginia
intermedia
Bivalves described in 1836
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Unionidae-stub