Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: HIGGINS EYE

Phylum: MOLLUSCA

Class: BIVALVIA

Order: UNIONOIDA

Family: UNIONIDAE

Genus: LAMPSILIS

Species: HIGGINSI

Taxonomic Authority: (LEA)

Taxonomy References: 015 , 002

Status

FEDERAL ENDANGERED
INDICATOR
NONGAME
SENSITIVE
STATE ENDANGERED
STATE RANK S1
GLOBAL RANK G1

Status References: 001 , 004 , 005 , 012 , 013

Habitat Summary

"Occur in large rivers with water up to 40 feet deep."

Primary Habitat: "Undetermined"

References: 003 , 006

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"No recent records from Missouri. Formerly found in Mississippi river near Louisiana, Missouri and upstream *01*. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists distribution as Mississippi R. upstream of lock and dam 20. Clark and Lewis counties border that section of river *11*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
No County Data Found

References for distribution: 001 , 011 , 010

Distribution by Watersheds

Comments: "Formerly known from hydrologic unit 07110004, no recent records from Missouri *01,10*"

Distribution by Ecoregions

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 003 , 006

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 001

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Omnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Other food habits; Not Specified

Comments for larval food habits:
"Parasitic, absorb nutrients from host *01*. Sauger is a known ho"

References for larval food habits: 001

Juvenile Food Habits

Other food habits; Not Specified
Other Microorganisms; Not Specified

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
"Parasitic, absorb nutrients from host *01*. Sauger is a known ho"

References Juvenile Food Habits 001

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 001 , 014

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

Substrate (not bottom type): animal substrate
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Host specified in comments(00680)

References for feeding larvae niche requirements: 001 , 008

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements: 001 , 008

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Dissolved oxygen: needs high O2 concentrations - saturated (euoxyphilous)
Ph: prefers ph above 7.0 (alkaliphilous)
Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Siltation: low
Nutrient concentrations: prefers moderate nutrient concentrations (mesotrophic)
prefers clean water habitats, tolerateS infrequent periods of low d.o. if ph and temp. unaltered (saproxenous)
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Stability of bottom: stable
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water level: permanently flooded
Salinity: prefers salt concentrations less than 500 mg/l (0.5 ppt)(oligohalobous)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 006 , 008

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 006 , 008

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Dissolved oxygen: needs high O2 concentrations - saturated (euoxyphilous)
Ph: prefers ph above 7.0 (alkaliphilous)
Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Siltation: low
Nutrient concentrations: prefers moderate nutrient concentrations (mesotrophic)
prefers clean water habitats, tolerateS infrequent periods of low d.o. if ph and temp. unaltered (saproxenous)
Stability of bottom: stable
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water level: permanently flooded
Salinity: prefers salt concentrations less than 500 mg/l (0.5 ppt)(oligohalobous)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 006 , 008

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Dissolved oxygen: needs high O2 concentrations - saturated (euoxyphilous)
Ph: prefers ph above 7.0 (alkaliphilous)
Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Siltation: low
Nutrient concentrations: prefers moderate nutrient concentrations (mesotrophic)
prefers clean water habitats, tolerateS infrequent periods of low d.o. if ph and temp. unaltered (saproxenous)
Stability of bottom: stable
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water level: permanently flooded
Salinity: prefers salt concentrations less than 500 mg/l (0.5 ppt)(oligohalobous)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 006 , 008

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Dissolved oxygen: needs high O2 concentrations - saturated (euoxyphilous)
Ph: prefers ph above 7.0 (alkaliphilous)
Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Siltation: low
Nutrient concentrations: prefers moderate nutrient concentrations (mesotrophic)
prefers clean water habitats, tolerateS infrequent periods of low d.o. if ph and temp. unaltered (saproxenous)
Stability of bottom: stable
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Water level: permanently flooded
Salinity: prefers salt concentrations less than 500 mg/l (0.5 ppt)(oligohalobous)
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Natural features: riffles

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 006 , 008

Niche Requirement Summary

Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: swift current
Dissolved oxygen: needs high O2 concentrations - saturated (euoxyphilous)
Host specified in comments(00680)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Natural features: riffles
Nutrient concentrations: prefers moderate nutrient concentrations (mesotrophic)
Ph: prefers ph above 7.0 (alkaliphilous)
prefers clean water habitats, tolerateS infrequent periods of low d.o. if ph and temp. unaltered (saproxenous)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Salinity: prefers salt concentrations less than 500 mg/l (0.5 ppt)(oligohalobous)
Siltation: low
Stability of bottom: stable
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Substrate (not bottom type): animal substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Turbidity: moderate turbidity
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
020 Eggs fertilized and develop into glochidia in female's gills, glochidia are released from gills *01*
034 Limited by availability of suitable habitat and presence of host (sauger) *01*
035 In other states, probably some mortality due to clamming *01*
037 Depend on host (sauger) for dispersal *01*
030 Most active spring, summer, and fall *01*
006 Filter water just above river bottom *01*
007 Breed in spring and are gravid aug. Or sept. Through following spring *09*
008 Males release sperm into water, sperm picked up as females filter water *01*

Life History Information

Dispersion: clumped dispersion
Periodicity specified in comments(030)
Limiting factors specified in comments(034)
Regulatory factors specified in comments(035)
Dispersal specified in comments(037)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: filtering
Foraging sites: water
Foraging height specified in comments(006)
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Mating system specified in comments(008)
Duration of pair bond: no pair bond formed
Spawning site: flowing water
Development of young at birth/hatching specified in comments(020)
Parental care of young: no care

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
020 Eggs fertilized and develop into glochidia in female's gills, glochidia are released from gills *01*
034 Limited by availability of suitable habitat and presence of host (sauger) *01*
035 In other states, probably some mortality due to clamming *01*
037 Depend on host (sauger) for dispersal *01*
030 Most active spring, summer, and fall *01*
006 Filter water just above river bottom *01*
007 Breed in spring and are gravid aug. Or sept. Through following spring *09*
008 Males release sperm into water, sperm picked up as females filter water *01*

References for life history: 001 , 009

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Regulate harvest of species being described
Water - develop/maintain spawning/nesting facilities
Water - control sedimentation
Water - control pollution (thermal, physical, chemical)
Water - develop/maintain streamside vegetation
Water - stabilize streambanks
Water - exclude livestock from water
Water - restrict human disturbance
Agricultural - control erosion

Beneficial Management References: 001

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - application of herbicides
Water - application of pesticides
Water - application of insecticides
Water - application of fertilizer - organic
Water - application of fertilizer - inorganic
Water - dredging and filling
Water - navigational improvements (channelization, dams, locks)
Water - stream channelization

Adverse Management References: 001

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Unpb Buchanan, A.C. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
002 Morton, J. E. 1967. Molluscs (4th Ed). Hutchinson and Co., Ltd. London. 244 Pp.
003 Parmalee, P.W. 1967. The Freshwater Mussels Of Illinois. IL State Mus. Pop. Sci. Ser. No. 8. 108 Pp.
004 U.S. Dept. Of The Interior. 1980. Republication Of Lists Of Endangered And Threatened Species And Correction Of Technical Errors In Final Rules. U.S. Fws, Washington, D.C. Fed. Register 45(99): 33768-33781.
005 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
006 Johnson, R.I. 1978. Systematics And Zoogeography Of Plagiold (= Dysnomia = Epioblasma), An Almost Extinct Genera Of Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) From Middle North America. Bull. Mus. Coop. Zool. 148(6): 239-321.
007 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
008 Surber, T. 1913. Identification Of The Glochidia Of Freshwater Mussels. U.S. Bur. Fisheries Doc. No. 771. 10 Pp.
009 Baker, F.C. 1928. The fresh-water mollusca of Wisconsin. Part II. Pelecypoda. Bull. Univ. Wisconsin, Bull. 70, II. WI Geol. and Nat. Hist. Surv. Gen. Ser. 1301, 495 pp. (cited in ref. 001)
010 Havlik, M.E. 1980. The Historic And Present Distribution Of The Endangered Naiad Mollusk Lampsilis Higginsi. Bull. Amer. Malacol. Union 1980:19-22.
011 Unpb Popowski, J. Memo To Fish and Wildl. Serv. Field Supervisor, Columbia, Mo (Dated 8/16/85), Concerning Revised County Listing Of Federally Listed Species Within Missouri.
012 Rare And Endangered Species Checklist Of Missouri. 1994. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Natural Heritage Database. 31 Pp.
013 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2007. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 51 Pp.
014 Allen, W.R. 1914. The Food And Feeding Habits Of Freshwater Mussels. Biol. Bull. 27(3):127-139.
015 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.