M O L L U S C A

The Tan Riffleshell

The Tan Riffleshell is an endangered species.

Mollusca Bivolvia

Classification Characteristics of the Characteristics of the Close Relatives: Locations and Habitats Routines:
The Tan Riffleshell is phylum: class: on Earth:
classified as a The Tan Riffleshell is The Tan Riffleshell eats
Mollusca. It’s class is Mollusca Phylum: There Bivalvia Class- In the closely related to the The Tan Riffleshell is food daily. By eating
Bivalvia are over 50,000 living Bivalvia Class, there are Oyster Mussel. Both of known to appear in this food, the mussel
species in this group, more than 30,000 these are fresh water fresh water areas in filters the water making
which makes this the species. They normally species of the class Kentucky, Tennessee, it more clear.
most diverse group of have two part shells and Bivalvia. and Virginia. The Tan
animals on the planet. have symmetrical Riffleshell inhabits sand
Animals of the Mollusca symmetry. Bivalvia can and gravel substrates
Phylum are normally live in both freshwater and is commonly found
covered with a hard and salt water. in headwaters, riffles ,
exoskeleton. and shoals.

Cheyenne Helman Period 7

More Information...
• Place on the food chain- The Tan Riffleshell
mussel is a secondary consumer because they are
known to eat plankton. Some of these freshwater
mussels eat phythoplankton and others eat zoo
plankton. By eating this, it makes the mussels
secondary consumers because plankton is an
organism that eats other organisms.
• Reasons for endangerment- Tan Riffleshell
mussels originally became endangered from References:
degraded water containing mine acid and <ref>http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/life_histories/
municipal wastes. Pollution is also believed to F010.html</ref>
have endangered this species.
<ref>http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/
• Laws protecting these species- There is no speciif summary_0193-8055_ITM</ref>
law protecting these mussels but when they were
discovered to be endangered, a recovery plan was
issued in1984 to help increase their population.

• Adaptation- The Tan Riffleshell burries itself in

the sand or gravel bottom for protection. It does
this by using the edge of its curved shell to dig
into the sand.

• Reproduction- The Tan Riffleshell reproduces

sexually. The male releases the sperm into the
water and the female fertilizes the eggs by taking
the sperm through her gills.

• Other Information- The Tan Riffleshell is a

medium sized freshwater mussel. It is
approximately 7cm in size with a brown or
yellow colored shell that contains green rays
shooting horizontally across the shell.

The Tan Riffleshell 1