This document summarizes mussel species in the Cumberlandian region, which includes two main river systems: the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers across seven states. It discusses 42 currently recognized mussel species in the region, 10 of which are presumed extinct. 22 species are federally endangered and 2 are federal candidate species. The document then describes 30 different mussel species and notes similar looking species that could cause confusion for each one described.

1. Cumberlandian Mussels
And
Similar Looking Species
Steven A. Ahlstedt and Gerald R. Dinkins

2. Overview of Cumberlandian
Mussel Fauna Region
Two Primary River Systems: Currently Recognized Species:
Tennessee and Cumberland
42
Seven States: Number Presumed Extinct:
North Carolina 10
Tennessee
Virginia Number Federal Endangered:
Georgia 22
Alabama
Mississippi Number Federal Candidate:
Kentucky 2

3. Similar Species:
1a. Actinonaias ligamentina
1. Actinonaias pectorosa
1b. Villosa taeniata

4. Similar Species:
2a. Alasmidonta raveneliana
2b. Alasmidonta marginata
2. Alasmidonta atropurpurea
2c. Strophitus undulatus

5. Similar Species:
3a. Alasmidonta atropurpurea
3b. Alasmidonta marginata
3. Alasmidonta raveneliana
3c. Strophitus undulatus

6. Similar Species:
4. Anodontoides denigrata 4a. Anodontoides ferussacianus

7. Similar Species:
5a. Cyprogenia stegaria
5. Dromus dromas

8. Male Similar Species:
None
Female
6. Epioblasma brevidens

9. Similar Species:
Male
Male
Female Female
7. Epioblasma capsaeformis 7a. Epioblasma florentina walkeri

10. Similar Species:
Male
Male
Female
Female
8a. Epioblasma capsaeformis
8. Epioblasma ahlstedti

11. Similar Species:
Male
Male
Female Female
9. Epioblasma florentina walkeri 9a. Epioblasma capsaeformis

12. Similar Species:
Male
Male
Female
Female
10. Epioblasma florentina aureola 10a. Epioblasma capsaeformis

13. Similar Species:
11a. Fusconaia cuneolus
11b. Pleuronaia barnesiana
11. Fusconaia cor
11c. Pleuronaia dolabelloides

14. Similar Species:
12a. Fusconaia cor
12b. Fusconaia subrotunda
12. Fusconaia cuneolus
12c. Pleuronaia barnesiana
12d. Pleuronaia dolabelloides

15. Similar Species:
13a. Lampsilis teres
13. Lampsilis virescens
13b. Lampsilis fasciola

16. Similar Species:
14. Lasmigona holstonia 14a. Strophitus undulatus

17. Similar Species:
Male None
Female
15. Lemiox rimosus

18. Similar Species:
16. Medionidus conradicus 16a. Villosa iris

19. Similar Species:
Male
Female 17a. Alasmidonta viridis
17. Pegias fabula

20. Similar Species:
18a. Pleurobema clava
18b. Pleuronaia barnesiana
18. Pleurobema oviforme
18c. Pleuronaia dolabelloides

21. Similar Species:
19a. Fusconaia cor 19b. Fusconaia cuneolus
19. Pleuronaia barnesiana 19c. Fusconaia subrotunda
19d. Pleuronaia dolabelloides 19e. Pleurobema oviforme

22. Similar Species:
20a. Fusconaia cor
20b. Fusconaia cuneolus
20. Pleuronaia dolabelloides 20c. Pleuronaia barnesiana
20d. Pleurobema oviforme

23. Similar Species:
21a. Pleuronaia barnesiana
21. Pleuronaia gibberum

24. Similar Species:
22a. Lasmigona costata
22. Ptychobranchus subtentum

25. Similar Species:
23. Quadrula cylindrica strigillata 23a. Quadrula cylindrica cylindrica

26. Similar Species:
24. Quadrula intermedia 24a. Quadrula sparsa

27. Similar Species:
25a. Quadrula intermedia
25. Quadrula sparsa
25a. Quadrula metanevra

28. Similar Species:
Male
Male Female
26a. Toxolasma lividum
Female
Male Female
26. Toxolasma
26b. Villosa vanuxemensis
cylindrellus

29. Similar Species:
Male
Female
27a. Villosa iris
27. Venustaconcha sima

30. Similar Species:
28. Villosa perpurpurea 28a. Villosa trabalis

31. Similar Species:
29a. Villosa perpurpurea
29. Villosa trabalis

32. Similar Species:
30a. Actinonaias pectorosa
30. Villosa taeniata
30b. Villosa iris

33. Similar Species:
Male
Male Female
Female
31a. Toxolasma lividum
31. Villosa vanuxemensis

34. Similar Species:
32a. Villosa iris
32. Villosa sp.

35. Acknowledgements
• Lindsay M. Kromer – University of Tennessee, Frank H. McClung
Museum
• Dr. Jeff Chapman – University of Tennessee, Frank H. McClung
Museum
• Dr. Art Bogan – North Carolina Museum of Natural History