Glebula

Glebula rotundata, the round pearlshell, is a freshwater mussel, and an aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae. As the only species in the genus Glebula, it is unusual among unionoid mussels for its abiltiy to tolerate brackish water.^[2]

Glebula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Unionida
Family:	Unionidae
Tribe:	Lampsilini
Genus:	Glebula Conrad, 1853
Species:	G. rotundata
Binomial name
Glebula rotundata (Lamarck, 1819)[1]

It is found in the drainages of the Gulf Coast, as well as in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Glebula rotundata

Glebula rotundata, commonly known as the round pearlshell, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae. It is the only species within the genus Glebula.^[3]

Unlike many unionid mussels, Glebula rotundata is notable for its ability to tolerate brackish water environments, which makes it unusual among its relatives.^[4]

Description

The round pearlshell has a rounded shell shape, typical of its species name, and inhabits freshwater rivers and streams, though it can survive in areas with some salinity.

Habitat and Distribution

This species is found primarily in freshwater systems in North America, especially in regions where freshwater meets brackish water, such as estuaries.^[3]