Cumberland elktoe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cumberland elktoe |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Alasmidonta
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| Species: |
atropurpurea
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The Cumberland elktoe (scientific name: Alasmidonta atropurpurea) is a special type of freshwater mussel. It's an animal that lives in water and has a two-part shell, like a clam. These mussels are part of the Unionidae family, also known as river mussels.
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What Does the Cumberland Elktoe Look Like?
The Cumberland elktoe has a shell that is thin but strong. The outside of its shell is smooth and a bit shiny. It often has greenish stripes or rays. Young mussels have a yellowish-brown shell. As they get older, their shells become much darker.
The inside of the shell is shiny, too. It can be white, bluish-white, or sometimes even a peachy or salmon color.
Where Does the Cumberland Elktoe Live?
The Cumberland elktoe lives only in the upper Cumberland River system. You can find it in 12 smaller streams in southeastern Kentucky and north-central Tennessee.
Historically, this mussel lived in the main Cumberland River. It also lived in streams both above and below Cumberland Falls. Today, it is mostly found in the smaller streams that flow into the Cumberland River. These areas are part of the Cumberland Plateau. This means it has a very limited home range.
Sometimes, people have confused the Cumberland elktoe with another similar mussel, the elktoe (Alasmidonta marginata). Scientists have worked to tell them apart.
Sadly, the Cumberland elktoe has disappeared from the main Cumberland River. It is also gone from the Laurel River and Lynn Camp Creek. Scientists are not sure about its status in the New River watershed. This area has a lot of coal mining.
However, the Cumberland elktoe still lives in these 12 streams:
- Laurel Fork, in Claiborne County, Tennessee, and Whitley County, Kentucky
- Marsh Creek, in McCreary County, Kentucky
- Sinking Creek, in Laurel County, Kentucky
- Big South Fork, in Scott County, Tennessee, and McCreary County, Kentucky
- Rock Creek, in McCreary County, Kentucky
- North White Oak Creek, in Fentress County, Tennessee
- Clear Fork, in Fentress, Morgan, and Scott counties, Tennessee
- North Prong Clear Fork and Crooked Creek, in Fentress County, Tennessee
- White Oak Creek, in Scott County, Tennessee
- Bone Camp Creek, in Morgan County, Tennessee
- New River, in Scott County, Tennessee
Many of these streams are connected. This means the mussels might be able to move between them. This helps keep their populations healthy.
The Cumberland elktoe is considered a "rare species." Marsh Creek in Kentucky has the largest known population. Rock Creek also has a good number of these mussels. In Tennessee, the biggest population is in the Clear Fork system. Scientists found hundreds of them there in the late 1980s.
How Does the Cumberland Elktoe Live?
Its Home
This mussel likes to live in medium-sized rivers. It can also be found in smaller streams closer to the river's source. It is sometimes the only mussel species in these smaller streams.
Scientists have found that the Cumberland elktoe prefers shallow, flat areas. These spots often have sand and scattered rocks. The water here is usually slow-moving. They can also live in faster currents. They like areas with mud, sand, and gravel at the bottom.
Its Fish Hosts
The Cumberland elktoe needs certain fish to help its babies grow. Baby mussels are called glochidia. They are tiny and attach to fish for a short time. This is a type of parasitism, but it doesn't usually harm the fish.
Scientists found that the Cumberland elktoe produces its babies from October through May. The baby mussels attach to the fins and gills of fish.
Five types of native fish can host the Cumberland elktoe's babies:
- Whitetail shiner (Cyprinella galactura)
- Northern hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans)
- Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
- Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)
- Rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum)
However, in lab tests, only the northern hogsucker helped the baby mussels fully develop. The baby mussels stayed on the fish for about 24 days. After this, they changed into tiny free-living mussels.
