Endangered Species: the Fat Pocketbook

An endangered species is an animal or a plant that is has a risk of going extinct, and the POTAMILIS CAPAX, better known as The Fat Pocketbook is, indeed, one of those species. This species has been listed endangered ever since the mid 70s. It's a freshwater mussel that was first found in the lower channel of the St. Francis river system in Arkansas. This freshwater mussel doesn't feed on what other mussels feed on, it's diet consists of filtered food particles from the water. Its is listed as federally endangered. The Fat Pocketbook is a round inflated shell that's thin to somewhat thick. Its ends are rounded with hinged like ligaments. This mussel is usually tan or light brown with a shiny surface. It has a few ridged ends but It's usually only visible in younger shells. It's periostracum, which is an organic coating starts off yellow, yellowish tan and as they become older it turns brownish. This mussel has teeth surprisingly, but they're thin compressed and elevated. They have two teeth in each valve.

This species looks a lot like the LAMPSILIS OVATA but is told apart by its shiny brown and yellow epidermis and it's lack in rays. Freshwater mussels, such as the Fat Pocketbook, have an abnormal and different way of reproducing, this includes a quick, stage as a parasite on fish that must happen. In the mating season, the female species lays eggs and spawn them inside special places in their gills. The Males let out sperm in the water, that is immediately then taken in by the females through their siphons. Like, every other egg in a reproduction cycle its then fertilized. Inside the female Fat Pocketbook, fertilized eggs develop into microscopic larvae that's called glochidia. The Fat Pocketbook glochidia parasitizes the Freshwater Drum fish, that is found in various habitats with flowing water.

This mussel spawns from late August on through September and lets the glochidia go in June and July. While the Fresh water marine mussels larvae can live freely and move amongst the currents, whereas on the other hand the Fat Pocketbooks larvae have to attach themselves.This freshwater mussel prefers bottom of the river where the sand, mud, and gravel lays. The mud in these areas can be up to 100 cm deep, which is merely impossible to walk through. It also loves flowing water. This mussel has been found in big rivers with slow flowing waters. Just recently the Fat pocketbook has been discovered to tolerate areas of the river where deposition occurs, this is something most mussels can not withstand. The water depth it prefers is from a few inches to several feet. It has been known to be found in the river south of Natchez, Mississippi and the river north of Helena, Arkansas.

This species As I mentioned the Fat Pocketbook was found in the Mississippi river, Wabash river, Indiana river, St. Francis river, Arkansas river; the Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and the Kentucky. Although they're found in a wide range of rivers, this mussel thrives the best in the St. Francis River system in Arkansas. The Fat Pocketbook has expanded it's range in the St. Francis river drainage, in doing so it is now known from almost 27 stream and ditch channels. In the Ohio River drainage, it is now in a 163 mi reach. The Mussel is in approximately 100 mi of the lower Wabash River. The St. Francis River system is the focus of this species historical distribution and keeps up the finest habitat and the healthiest populations currently, feasible populations may exist in the Wabash, Cumberland, and Ohio Rivers or a few of their tributaries but they aren't successfully habitats but they are doable.

Water quality from many sources have been connected to harmful effects to freshwater mussels, and are suspected to be a factor in fat pocketbooks. This mussel is quite vulnerable to illegal discharges. The illegal discharge of glycerin on fields and in ditches tributary to Belle Fountain Ditch, Missouri, that happened in the year of 2007 killed more than 80 fat pocketbook mussels. Pollution like storm water runoff that includes mixtures of pesticides, fecal coliform bacteria, metals, and pharmaceuticals have additionally had a negative impact on fat pocketbook populations in mostly areas of intensive agriculture. Predation was not considered threats to the fat pocketbook, and there's no evidence that it is currently a factor in its conservation.

Cite this page