Unio tumidiformis

{{Speciesbox

| image =

| status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Araujo, R. |year=2011 |title=Unio tumidiformis |volume=2011 |page=e.T171935A6810869 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T171935A6810869.en |access-date=7 June 2024}}

| taxon = Unio tumidiformis

| authority = Castro, 1885

| synonyms = {{species list

| Unio baeticus | Kobelt, 1888 }}

| synonyms_ref =

}}

File:Unio-tumidiformis-map-eur-nm-moll.jpg

Unio tumidiformis is a species of bivalve belonging to the family Unionidae.{{GBIF |title=Unio tumidiformis Castro, 1885 |id=6548059 |access-date=29 October 2021 |language=en}} It is endemic to the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. Existing populations are known from the Guadiana, Mira, and Sado Rivers in Portugal and Spain.

Unio tumidiformis is related to Unio crassus and has been considered a "race" of the latter, but a 2009 study found the two species to be clearly distinct.

Description

Unio tumidiformis grows to a shell length of {{cvt|57|mm|in}} and wet weight of {{cvt|16|g}}. The shell is oval in shape. In a population in southern Portugal, mussels became sexually mature at the age of 2 years. The maximum observed age was 7 years.

Habitat

Unio tumidiformis occurs in temporary Mediterranean-type streams, surviving the dry season in pools that do not dry up. It is also known from some lakes (Lagunas de Ruidera in Spain). Its larvae (glochidia) seem to successfully develop only in fish of the genus Squalius (Cyprinidae).

Conservation

Populations from the Guadiana and Guadalquivir River basins have already been extirpated. This species is threatened by changes of hydrologic regime of the streams, natural droughts, gravel and water extraction, dams, and impoundments. Also the loss of suitable host fish and pollution are threats.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite journal |last1=Reis |first1=Joaquim |last2=Araujo |first2=Rafael |title=Redescription of Unio tumidiformis Castro, 1885 (Bivalvia, Unionidae), an endemism from the south-western Iberian Peninsula |journal=Journal of Natural History |date=2009 |volume=43 |issue=31–32 |pages=1929–1945 |doi=10.1080/00222930902993724}}

{{cite journal |last1=Reis |first1=Joaquim |last2=Araujo |first2=Rafael |title=Life history of the freshwater mussel Unio tumidiformis (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in a temporary Mediterranean‐type stream |journal=Invertebrate Biology |date=2016 |volume=135 |issue=1 |pages=31–45 |doi=10.1111/ivb.12114}}

{{cite WoRMS |title=Unio tumidiformis Castro, 1885 |year=2024 |id=1355708 |db=MolluscaBase |access-date=7 June 2024}}

}}

Category:Unionidae

Category:Bivalves of Europe

Category:Endemic molluscs of the Iberian Peninsula

Category:Freshwater animals of Europe

Category:Molluscs described in 1885