Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: RABBITSFOOT

Phylum: MOLLUSCA

Class: BIVALVIA

Order: UNIONOIDA

Family: UNIONIDAE

Genus: THELIDERMA

Species: CYLINDRICA

Taxonomic Authority: (SAY)

Taxonomy References: 019 , 002 , 005 , 006

Status

FEDERAL CANDIDATE
STATE RANK S1
GLOBAL RANK G3T3

Status References: 017 , 018 , 001

Habitat Summary

"Is found in creeks and medium to large rivers with mixed sand and gravel substrates."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 002 , 003 , 004 , 006

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Is found in southwestern and southeastern Missouri *04*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BUTLER ADAIR
JASPER ANDREW
MONROE ATCHISON
NEWTON AUDRAIN
WAYNE BARRY
BARTON
BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 004 , 006 , 011 , 014

Distribution by Watersheds

South Fork from Headwaters to North Fork
St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Spring R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Ozark: Springfield Plateau
Ozark: Lower Ozark

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, upper perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, cobble/gravel"
"Riverine, upper perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, sand"

References for Aquatic Associations: 002 , 003 , 004 , 006

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 003

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Omnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Algae; Not Specified
Protozoans; Not Specified
Other Microorganisms; Not Specified
Bacillariophyceae (diatoms); Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 013

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

Host specified in comments(00680)

References for feeding larvae niche requirements: 004

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs on substrate (not penetrating)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Gradient: moderate
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features specified in comments(00280)

References for resting Larvae niche requirements: 004

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs on substrate (not penetrating)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Gradient: moderate
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features specified in comments(00280)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 002 , 006 , 007 , 008 , 009 , 010 , 011

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs on substrate (not penetrating)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Gradient: moderate
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features specified in comments(00280)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 002 , 006 , 007 , 008 , 009 , 010 , 011

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs on substrate (not penetrating)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Gradient: moderate
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features specified in comments(00280)

References for resting adult niche requirements:

Niche Requirement Summary

Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Gradient: moderate
Host specified in comments(00680)
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Natural features: riffles
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate: occurs on substrate (not penetrating)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Turbidity: clear water
Water depth specified in comments(00230)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Spawning occurs May-July *10*.
003 Host fishes for glochidia: whitetail shiner (notropis galacturus), spotfin shiner (notropis spilopterus) and bigeye chub (hybopsis amblops) *10*.
018 115,000 embryos/female have been reported *10*.
099 Seldom burrows, lies upon the substrate *12*.

Life History Information

Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Closely associated plant or animal species specified in comments(003)
Foraging strategy: filtering
Foraging sites: feed on bottom of stream, lake or pond
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Sex ratio: 1:1

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Spawning occurs May-July *10*.
003 Host fishes for glochidia: whitetail shiner (notropis galacturus), spotfin shiner (notropis spilopterus) and bigeye chub (hybopsis amblops) *10*.
018 115,000 embryos/female have been reported *10*.
099 Seldom burrows, lies upon the substrate *12*.

References for life history: 004 , 010 , 012

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - control sedimentation
Water - control pollution (thermal, physical, chemical)
Water - control aquatic animals

Beneficial Management References: 003

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - application of herbicides
Water - navigational improvements (channelization, dams, locks)
Water - stream channelization
Water - other (specify in comments)

Adverse Management References: 003

Comments on Management:
Adverse: directly exploited/threatened by natural or man-made forces. Siltation, drainage, pollution, zebra mussels, impoundments, livestock, poor water quality *03*.

References for Management Comments: 003

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
002 Illinois Natural History Survey. 1997. Quadrula Cylindrica (Say, 1817) Rabbitsfoot. Http://Www.Inhs.Uiuc.Edu/Cbd/Musselmanual/Page32_3.Html 2 November 2000.
003 Natureserve: An Online Encyclopedia Of Life [Web Application]. 2000. Version 1.0. Arlington (Va): Association For Biodiversity Information. Available: Http://Www.Natureserve.Org/. (Accessed: November 7, 2000).
004 Oesch, R.D. 1995. Missouri Naiades. A Guide To The Mussels Of Missouri. Second Edition. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 271 Pp.
005 Williams, J.D., A.E. Bogan, R.S. Butler, K.S. Cummings, J.T. Garner, J.L. Harris, N.A. Johnson and G.T. Watters. 2017. A revised list of the freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) of the United States and Canada. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 20:33-58.
006 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
007 Gordon, M.E. and J.B. Layzer. 1989. Mussels (Bibalvia: Unionoidea) Of The Cumberland River Review Of Life Histories And Ecological Relationships. Biological Report 89(15): 1-99. As Cited In (06).
008 Cummings, K.S. and C.A. Mayer. 1992. Field Guide To Freshwater Mussels Of The Midwest. Illinois History Survey Manual 5. 194 Pp. As Cited In (06).
009 Parmalee, P.W. 1967. The Freshwater Mussels Of Illinois. IL State Mus. Pop. Sci. Ser. No. 8. 108 Pp.
010 Yeager, Bruce L. and Richard J. Neves. 1986. Reproductive Cycle And Fish Hosts Of The Rabbit's Foot Mussel, Quadrula Cylindrica Strigillata (Mollusca: Unionidae) In The Upper Tennesse River Drainage. American Midland Naturalist. Vol. 116(2). Pp. 329-340.
011 Obermeyer, B.K., D.W. Edds, C.W. Prophet And E.J. Miller. 1997. Freshwater Mussels (Bivalva:Unionidae) In The Verdigris, Neosho And Spring River Basins Of Kansas And Missouri, With Emphasis On Species Of Special Concern. American Malacological Bulletin. 14: 41-55.
012 Ecological Specialists, Inc. 1993. Mussel Habitat Suitability And Impact Analysis Of The Tippecanoe River. Final Report. Prepared For Indiana Department Of Natural Resources And The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service, Vol. 1. 102 Pp. + Appendices.
013 Allen, W.R. 1914. The Food And Feeding Habits Of Freshwater Mussels. Biol. Bull. 27(3):127-139.
014 Unpb Bruenderman, S. Mussel Occurrence Database. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201 (573-882-9880).
015 Unpb Sternburg, J. MO Dept. of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573-751-4115)
016 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
017 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2011. Missouri species and communities of conservation concern checklist. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. pp. 55.
018 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO. pp. 52.
019 Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society (FMCS). 2021. The 2021 checklist of freshwater mussels. https://molluskconservation.org/Library/Committees/Names/Appendix_1_Bivalves_Revised_Names_List_20210825.pdf