CR

Lemiox rimosus

Declining

Overview

The birdwing pearlymussel is a rare species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. This aquatic bivalve is native to Tennessee and Virginia in the United States. Its range has declined over 90%. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

Lemiox rimosus faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in Southeast Asian tropical forests. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical breeding sites, while the species' specialized ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to even small-scale habitat modifications. Climate change is exacerbating these pressures by altering the microhabitat conditions essential for this species' survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Lemiox rimosus inhabits primary and secondary tropical rainforests, typically found in areas with high humidity and dense canopy cover. The species shows preference for forest floor microhabitats with abundant leaf litter and fallen logs, requiring specific moisture and temperature conditions for reproduction and feeding.

FRESHWATER· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationLegislation

Other threatened species in UNIONIDAE

VU

Brazzaea anceyi

Unknown
Lampsilis higginsiiEN

Lampsilis higginsii

Unknown
EN

Triangle Pigtoe

Fusconaia lananensis

Declining
VU

Lampsilis dolabraeformis

Unknown

Threatened in United States

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Lemiox rimosus classified as Critically Endangered?
Lemiox rimosus is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Lemiox rimosus faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in Southeast Asian tropical forests. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical breeding sites, while the species' specialized ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to even small-scale habitat modifications. Climate change is exacerbating these pressures by altering the microhabitat conditions essential for this species' survival.
Where does Lemiox rimosus live?
Lemiox rimosus occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Lemiox rimosus?
The main threats to Lemiox rimosus are 1.1, 11.4, 2.1, and 3.2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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