Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: WESTERN FANSHELL

Phylum: MOLLUSCA

Class: BIVALVIA

Order: UNIONOIDA

Family: UNIONIDAE

Genus: CYPROGENIA

Species: ABERTI

Taxonomic Authority: (CONRAD)

Taxonomy References: 016 , 007 , 004

Status

STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G2

Status References: 001

Habitat Summary

"Found in streams (creeks to large rivers) with rock, gravel and soft mud bottoms."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 007 , 002 , 003 , 005 , 006

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs south of the Missouri river *05*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BOLLINGER ADAIR
BUTLER ANDREW
IRON ATCHISON
JASPER AUDRAIN
MADISON BARRY
RIPLEY BARTON
STODDARD BATES
WAYNE BENTON
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
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 009 , 013 , 001 , 002 , 003 , 005

Distribution by Watersheds

Castor R. and Castor R. Diversion Channel
St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Black R.
Current R.
Spring R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: Springfield Plateau
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, lower perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, cobble/gravel"
"Riverine, lower perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, sand"
"Riverine, lower perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, mud"

References for Aquatic Associations: 007 , 005 , 006

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 007 , 005 , 006

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 012

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: 005

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Water quality: restricted to clean waters that have not been exposed to pollution (saprophobic)
Substrate (not bottom type): mud or silt
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth: shallow
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features: runs or raceways

References for resting Larvae niche requirements: 005

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
Water quality: restricted to clean waters that have not been exposed to pollution (saprophobic)
Substrate (not bottom type): mud or silt
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth: shallow
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features: runs or raceways

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 007 , 009 , 005 , 006

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Water quality: restricted to clean waters that have not been exposed to pollution (saprophobic)
Substrate (not bottom type): mud or silt
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth: shallow
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features: runs or raceways

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 007 , 009 , 005 , 006

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Water quality: restricted to clean waters that have not been exposed to pollution (saprophobic)
Substrate (not bottom type): mud or silt
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity: slow current
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth: shallow
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features: runs or raceways

References for resting adult niche requirements:

Niche Requirement Summary

Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: slow current
Host specified in comments(00680)
Natural features: riffles
Natural features: runs or raceways
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Substrate (not bottom type): mud or silt
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate (not bottom type): sand substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Turbidity: clear water
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Water depth: shallow
Water quality: restricted to clean waters that have not been exposed to pollution (saprophobic)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Gravid females have been found in in winter *08*.
003 Logperch and fantail darters are suitable hosts for the glochidia *02*. A MO lab study found three fish that successfully supported glochidia: fantail darter (etheostoma flabellare), banded sculpin (cottus carolinae) and logperch (percina caprodes) *08*.
099 Conglutinates serve as a fish lure and aid in the transfer of glochidia from females to the host fish *10*.

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)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Gravid females have been found in in winter *08*.
003 Logperch and fantail darters are suitable hosts for the glochidia *02*. A MO lab study found three fish that successfully supported glochidia: fantail darter (etheostoma flabellare), banded sculpin (cottus carolinae) and logperch (percina caprodes) *08*.
099 Conglutinates serve as a fish lure and aid in the transfer of glochidia from females to the host fish *10*.

References for life history: 008 , 002

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

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

Beneficial Management References:

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - dredging and filling
Water - navigational improvements (channelization, dams, locks)
Water - stream channelization
Water - other (specify in comments)

Adverse Management References: 008

Comments on Management:
Adverse: impoundments, gravel mining, agricultural pracitces (resulting in siltation and organic inputs). zebra mussels are possible competitors *08*.

References for Management Comments: 008

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2007. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 51 Pp.
002 Southwestern Missouri State University. Unio Gallery. Western Fanshell, Cyprogenia Aberti. Http://Courses.Smsu.Edu/Mcb095f/Gallery/ Cyprogenia/Fanshell.Htm 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 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.
005 Oesch, R.D. 1995. Missouri Naiades. A Guide To The Mussels Of Missouri. Second Edition. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 271 Pp.
006 Buchanan, A.C. 1979. Mussels (Naides) Of The Little Black River Basin In Missouri And Arkansas. United States Dept. Of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. Columbia, Missouri. 69 Pp.
007 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
008 Barnhart, C.M. 1997. Reproduction And Fish Hosts Of Unionid Species Of Concern. Report Submitted To The Missouri Department Of Conservation.
009 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.
010 Chamberlain, T.K. 1934. The Glochidal Conglutinates Of The Arkansas Fanshell, Cyprogenia Aberti (Conrad). Biological Bulletin 66: 55-61.
011 Murray, Harold D. and A. Byron Leonard. 1962. Handbook Of Unionid Mussels In Kansas. Museum Of Natural History, University Of Kansas, Lawrence, Ks. Misc. Pub. No28. Pp. 1-184. May 10, 1962.
012 Allen, W.R. 1914. The Food And Feeding Habits Of Freshwater Mussels. Biol. Bull. 27(3):127-139.
013 Unpb Bruenderman, S. Mussel Occurrence Database. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201 (573-882-9880).
014 Unpb Sternburg, J. MO Dept. of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573-751-4115)
015 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
016 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.