Kingdom Animalia Genus Epioblasma Phylum Mollusca Rank Species | Family Unionidae Scientific name Epioblasma turgidula Higher classification Epioblasma Order Unionoida | |
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Similar Epioblasma, Sampson's naiad, Fine‑rayed pigtoe pearly mu, Acorn pearly mussel, Cumberland leafshell | ||
The turgid riffle shell, turgid-blossom naiad, turgid-blossom pearly mussel, or turgid-blossom, scientific name Epioblasma turgidula, was a species of freshwater mussel, a mollusk in the family Unionidae. It is now extinct.
This species was native to the United States, where it was found in the drainage of the Cumberland River, Tennessee River, and several rivers in the Ozark Mountains. Its natural habitat was riffles and shoals of large rivers, which have now largely been destroyed by dams construction and dredging.
Like most other mussels in the sensitive genus Epioblasma, this species experienced severe declines during industrialization due to pollution, siltation, habitat destruction. The last known population was recorded in 1965 from the Duck River in Tennessee, near the town of Normandy. This population was killed by the construction of Normandy Dam in the following years.