Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Epioblasma triquetra (Epioblasma triquetra), recorded as Endangered
Epioblasma triquetra (Epioblasma triquetra). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Epioblasma triquetra

Epioblasma triquetra

Epioblasma triquetra is a bivalve in the family Unionidae (order Unionida), recorded as Endangered.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Epioblasma triquetra
Taxonomy
Bivalvia · Unionida · Unionidae · Epioblasma

Range and habitat

This species lives in the Great Lakes system and Mississippi River system. Its natural habitat is riffles and shoals of rocky rivers, and the shores of lakes with wave activity. This species is declining throughout its range due to habitat destruction, siltation, pollution, and competition with invasive species.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Breeding

Freshwater mussels bury in the bed and live for decades if the river still runs and the host fish still spawn.

In crisis

It is native to eastern North America, where it is a listed as an endangered species in both Canada and the United States.

Epioblasma triquetra is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Epioblasma triquetra, Wikidata item Q3013424. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Same genus

Photograph of Cumberlandian combshell (Epioblasma brevidens), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Cumberlandian combshell

Epioblasma brevidens
Photograph of Epioblasma torulosa (Epioblasma torulosa), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Epioblasma torulosa

Epioblasma torulosa
Photograph of Oyster mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis), recorded as EndangeredEN

Oyster mussel

Epioblasma capsaeformis
Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus

Quick answers

What is Epioblasma triquetra?
Epioblasma triquetra is a bivalve in the family Unionidae (order Unionida).
What is the conservation status of Epioblasma triquetra?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Epioblasma triquetra. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Epioblasma triquetra live?
Its natural habitat is riffles and shoals of rocky rivers, and the shores of lakes with wave activity.
Why is Epioblasma triquetra in crisis?
It is native to eastern North America, where it is a listed as an endangered species in both Canada and the United States.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Epioblasma triquetra?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Epioblasma triquetra a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.