Chinese pond mussel	Status LU: absent.
	Chinesesch Weiermuschel	Status Eur.: established.
	Anodonte chinois	RA: ISEIA: C0. Harmonia+: n/a.
	Chinesische Teichmuschel	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: n/a (2020) | CABI
	n/a	Back to the list of invertebrates

Report the species

→ Report Sinanodonta woodiana to the National Museum of Natural History.

Brief description

Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. The Chinese pond mussel can reach sizes of up to 30 cm and an age of 12–14 years. Yet, they can reproduce in their first year while only 3–4 cm in size. This large freshwater mussel is a habitat generalist with high silt tolerance. It is established worldwide despite having, like all unionid mussels, an obligatory parasitic stage (glochidium), which must encyst on host fish. The species is a broad host generalist, which can complete its development on all fish species tested, both coinvasive and native. The presence of S. woodiana can seriously influence indigenous unionid populations. Sinanodonta woodiana’s great success is attributed to importation and commercialization of Asian carp, its native host. S. woodiana was introduced in Tuscany both inadvertently, and for artificial pearl production. The species is also sold in garden centers as biofiltration for artificial ponds (CABI 2019).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) has not yet been observed in Luxembourg (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2020).

A flyer about invasive mussels has been published by natur&ëmwelt.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C0 (2+1+2+1) (Ries et al. 2017: 68).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

CABI 2019: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/117178#toDistributionMaps

Bibliography

• CABI, 2019. Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834). In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-04-21]
• MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2020. Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-04-21]
• Ries, C., A. Arendt, C. Braunert, S. Christian, A. Dohet, A. Frantz, G. Geimer, M. Hellers, J. A. Massard, X. Mestdagh, R. Proess, N. Schneider & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2017. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of invertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 63-70. [PDF 360 KB]