First account of a living population of False Spike, Quadrula mitchelli (Bivalvia: Unionidae), in the Guadalupe River, Texas

Authors: C.R. Randklev, M.S. Johnson, E.T. Tsakiris, S. Rogers-Oetker, K.J. Roe, S. McMurray, C. Robertson, J. Groce, N. Wilkins

During a fall 2011 survey, a small population of Q. mitchelli was discovered in the Guadalupe River near Gonzales, Texas. In total, 7 individuals were collected during two different sampling periods. Juveniles were not observed at the site, but given our sampling methodology (timed tactile and visual searches), their presence cannot be ruled out. All of the individuals collected are consistent with taxonomic descriptions provided by Howells et al. (1996). Other rare Texas endemic species were collected at the same locality, including the Golden Orb, Quadrula aurea (Lea 1859), and Texas pimpleback, Quadrula petrina (Gould 1855). These species are listed as state threatened in Texas and are candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (USFWS 2011).

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