Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: SNUFFBOX

Phylum: MOLLUSCA

Class: BIVALVIA

Order: UNIONOIDA

Family: UNIONIDAE

Genus: EPIOBLASMA

Species: TRIQUETRA

Taxonomic Authority: (RAFINESQUE)

Taxonomy References: 017 , 007 , 002 , 004

Status

FEDERAL ENDANGERED
STATE ENDANGERED
STATE RANK S1
GLOBAL RANK G3

Status References: 001 , 016

Habitat Summary

"Occurs in medium to large rivers with clear water and gravel riffles."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 005 , 006 , 007 , 002 , 003

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Historically widespread in the midwest *03*. occurs in the southeastern part of Missouri *06,07*"

County Occurance

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

References for distribution: 005 , 006 , 007 , 013 , 003

Distribution by Watersheds

Meramec R.
Bourbeuse R.
Castor R. and Castor R. Diversion Channel
St. Francis R. from Headwaters to Wappapello Dam
Current R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
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"
"Riverine, upper perennial", "Unconsolidated bottom, mud"

References for Aquatic Associations: 005 , 006 , 007 , 002 , 003

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 005 , 006 , 007 , 002 , 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 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
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: boulders
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth: shallow
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Natural features: riffles

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
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: boulders
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth: shallow
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 005 , 006 , 009 , 010 , 011 , 002

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
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: boulders
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth: shallow
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Natural features: riffles

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 005 , 006 , 009 , 010 , 011 , 002

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
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: boulders
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Current velocity specified in comments(00150)
Water depth: shallow
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Natural features: riffles

References for resting adult niche requirements:

Niche Requirement Summary

Bottom type: boulders
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: swift current
Host specified in comments(00680)
Natural features: riffles
Relation to substrate specified in comments(00090)
Relation to substrate: occurs in substrate (penetrating)
Stream width specified in comments(00265)
Substrate (not bottom type): rock substrate
Substrate specified in comments(00080)
Turbidity: clear water
Water depth specified in comments(00230)
Water depth: shallow

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
003 Missouri fish hosts for glochidia: banded sculpin (cottus carolinae), greenside darter (etheostoma blennioides), logperch (percina caprodes) and dusky darter (percina sciera) *08*.
007 Winter breeders (bradytictic) *05,10*. Gravid females with mature glochidia have been found in May and June *08*; gravid females have also been found in September and October *05,10*.

Life History Information

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
003 Missouri fish hosts for glochidia: banded sculpin (cottus carolinae), greenside darter (etheostoma blennioides), logperch (percina caprodes) and dusky darter (percina sciera) *08*.
007 Winter breeders (bradytictic) *05,10*. Gravid females with mature glochidia have been found in May and June *08*; gravid females have also been found in September and October *05,10*.

References for life history: 005 , 008 , 010

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - control sedimentation
Water - control pollution (thermal, physical, chemical)
Water - exclude livestock from water

Beneficial Management References: 003

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - dredging and filling
Water - navigational improvements (channelization, dams, locks)
Water - stream channelization
Water - drainage of wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes
Water - other (specify in comments)

Adverse Management References: 003

Comments on Management:
Adverse: siltation, pollution, impoundments, mineral and industrial development, destruction of habitat, domestic livestock *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. Epioblasma Triquetra (Rafinesque, 1820) Snuffbox. Http://Www.Inhs.Uiuc.Edu/Cbd/Musselmanual/ Page162_3.Html 2 November 2000.
003 Natureserve: An Online Encyclopedia Of Life [Web Application]. 2000. Version 1.0. Arlington (Va): Association For Biodiversity Information. Avaliable: 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. 1980. Mussels (naiades) of the Meramec River Basin. Missouri Dept. of Conservation Aquatic Ser. No. 17. Jefferson City, MO. 76 pp.
007 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
008 Yeager, Bruce L. and Charles F. Saylor. 1995. Fish Hosts For Four Species Of Freshwater Mussels (Pelecypoda: Unionidae) In The Upper Tennessee River Drainage. American Midland Naturalist. Vol. 133(1): 1-6.
009 Taylor, Ralph W. 1980. Freshwater Bivalves Of Tygart Creek, Northeastern Kentucky. Nautilis. Vol. 94 (2). Pp. 89-91.
010 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)
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 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO. pp. 52.
017 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.