Depressed river mussel

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Depressed river mussel
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Subclass: Palaeoheterodonta Order: Unionoida Family: Unionidae Genus: Pseudanodonta Species: P. complanata
Binomial name
Pseudanodonta complanata Rossmässler, 1835

The depressed river mussel or compressed river mussel, Pseudanodonta complanata, is a species of freshwater mussel. It is found across northern Europe, but is endangered throughout its range.

The species' name comes from the shape of its shell. While it is thought to be threatened by pollution and the dredging of the slow-moving channels of water in which it lives, it is also said to be "easily overlooked" and may be more prevalent than commonly thought.

[edit] Distribution and conservation status

• IUCN red list - near threatened (NT) ^[2]

It's native distribution is European.

• The Czech Republic - endangered (EN). It is endangered in Bohemia and critically endangered in Moravia. ^{[3] [4]}
• Germany
  • critically endangered (vom Austerben bedroht) ^[5]
  • Listed as strictly protected species and as specially protected species in annex 1 in Bundesartenschutzverordnung.
• Netherlands - yes ^[6]
• Poland - endangered ^[7]
• Slovakia - endangered ^[8]
• United Kingdom - see Action plan for Pseudanodonta complanata, (British Isles - listed in List of endangered species in the British Isles)
• Sweden - rare ^[9]

[edit] References

• Polish Red Data Book of Animals: Pseudanodonta complanata
• Action plan for Pseudanodonta complanata
• Nature Navigator: Detail of Depressed River Mussel