Theliderma intermedia explained

Theliderma intermedia, the Cumberland monkeyface pearly mussel or Cumberland monkeyface, is a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This aquatic bivalve mollusk is native to Tennessee and Virginia in the United States. Historically widespread in the upper Tennessee River system, it populations have been reduced by habitat destruction and pollution. It now only occurs in two tributaries: the Duck and Powell Rivers.^[1] It is a federally listed endangered species.^[2]

This species is greenish yellow in color.^[3] It can reach at least 35 years of age.^[1] Like other mussels, it has larvae called glochidia that lodge in the gills of fish to develop into juvenile mussels. Hosts for this species include the streamline chub (Erimystax dissimilis) and blotched chub (Erimystax insignis).^[4]

This mussel has been extirpated from the Elk River. There is still a population in the Powell River, and the population in the Duck River appears to be viable.^[1]

• The Cumberland Monkeyface PearlyMussel is a freshwater mussel species.
• The Cumberland Monkeyface PearlyMussel is a medium sized mussel and has pearls.
• They are called the Cumberland Monkeyface PearlyMussel because their shell looks like a “monkey's” face.
• Their species are decreasing because of dam construction, water pollution and habitat loss due to humans and natural reasons.
• They help purify river water because they have gills that filter water and tiny particles of food.
• They are found in the Cumberland river.
• They can live up to 20–35 years!
• They are slow to reproduce so that makes it harder for them to recover from habitat loss and humans.
• The Cumberland Monkeyface PearlyMussel also grows very slowly making their species hard to recover.
• They take months or years to turn into an adult, when they are an adult a lady Cumberland Monkeyface PearlyMussel releases her eggs into the water, the
• male Cumberland Monkeyface PearlyMussel will fertilise them with sperm.
• After the eggs are fertilised they attach to a fish or a water host until they hatch, when they hatch they will leave the host fish and go to the bottom of the river bed.
• The scientific name of this mussel is Theloderma intermedia
• They can be found on the bottom of certain riverbeds.

Notes and References

1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Asheville Ecological Services Field Office. Cumberland Monkeyface (Quadrula intermedia) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. July 2011. 25 December 2023. Asheville, North Carolina. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
2. Web site: Cumberland monkeyface (pearlymussel) (Theliderma intermedia). Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 25 December 2023.
3. Book: Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America. Cumberland Monkeyface. https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/science-magazines/cumberland-monkeyface. 25 December 2023. encyclopedia.com. Castronova. Frank V.. Sessine. Suzanne. Beacham. Walton. Gale Group. 2001. 0787650358.
4. Web site: Quadrula intermedia. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. NatureServe. Arlington, Virginia. 1 December 2023. 25 December 2023.