Potomida littoralis

Potomida littoralis is a species of bivalve belonging to the family Unionidae.^[2][3]

Potomida littoralis
Dried shell (syntype at MNHN, Paris)
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Bivalvia
Order:	Unionida
Superfamily:	Unionoidea
Family:	Unionidae
Genus:	Potomida
Species:	P. littoralis
Binomial name
Potomida littoralis (Cuvier, 1798)
Synonyms
Mysca (Potomida) corrugata Swainson, 1840 (junior synonym) Potomida (Potomida) litoralis [sic] Potomida littoralis fellmanni (Deshayes, 1848) Potomida littoralis umbonata (Rossmässler, 1844) Rhombunio asananus Pallary, 1928 (junior synonym) Unio calderoni Kobelt, 1888 (junior synonym) Unio fellmanni Deshayes, 1848 Unio hispalensis Kobelt, 1888 (junior synonym) Unio incurvus I. Lea, 1831 Unio ksibianus Mousson, 1873 (junior synonym) Unio littoralis Cuvier, 1798 (original combination) Unio littoralis var. bucheti Pallary, 1899 (original combination) † Unio littoralis var. pequignoti Pallary, 1901 Unio littoralis var. umbonatus Rossmässler, 1844 Unio marteli Pallary, 1918 (original combination) Unio subtetragonus Michaud, 1831 (a junior synonym) Unio unduliferus Küster, 1861 (junior synonym)

Distribution

The species is found in Europe, Mediterranean and Southern Asia.^[2] It occurs in Africa between Tunisia and Morocco.^[1] It is not recorded between Italy and Albania.^[1]

Reproduction

In the Iberian Peninsula, gravid females are observed from March through October, with hatching occurring in September.^[1]

Conservation

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this species is endangered and in decline.^[1] Water extraction is harming populations in Portugal, Syria, Lebanon and Israel.^[1] Canalization of river channels, water pollution and dam construction are also threats.^[1] The distribution of P. littoralis in the Iberian peninsula and in France is highly fragmented.^[1]