| Page last updated
26 December 2007 |
Freshwater Mussels of Angola
Species Diversity. Twenty-three species of freshwater mussels in three families occur in the Angola Region. The family Iridinidae is represented by 15 species in four genera. Links for specimen records and synonymies query the MUSSEL Project Database.
Family Iridinidae
Genus Mutela
M. rostrata
MCZ 88961 Congo River, Malebo Pool, Kinshasa, DRC.
ANSP 133859 Congo River, Kisangani, DRC.
Lualaba River, Nsendwe, DRC.
Distribution. — Widespread in West Africa and the Nile, apparently reaching its southern limit in the Congo, including the Cassai. Not specifically reported from within the borders of Angola.
specimen records | synonymy
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M. legumen
+ carrei
BMNH 1937.12.30.9109-9110 Congo River, Malebo Pool, Kinshasa, DRC.
Syntype of Mutelina legumen. MNHN 5701 Congo River, Ngantschou, Republic of the Congo.
Distribution. — Known only from the vicinity of Malebo Pool. Not specifically reported from within the borders of Angola.
specimen records | synonymy
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M. langi
ANSP 133860 (holotype) Congo Estuary, Zambi, DRC.
Distribution. — Known definitively from only the type locality, Zambi, in the lowest reach of the Congo.
specimen records | synonymy |
M. mabilli
+ iris
Holotype of M. iris Pilsbry & Bequaert. ANSP 134054 Lualaba River, Mulongo, DRC.
Syntype of Mutelina mabilli. MNHN 5700 Congo River, Ngantschou, Republic of the Congo.
Distribution. — Widespread in the Congo Basin, including below Malebo Pool in the Angola Region, but not specifically reported from within the borders of Angola.
specimen records | synonymy |
M. zambesiensis
FMNH 293190 Botletle River, near Maun, Botswana.
MCZ 88957 Cunene River, Calueque, Angola.
Distribution. - Known from the Upper Zambezi, Okavango and the Cunene basins. According to Appleton (1996), the range of M. zambesiensis extends south into South Africa.
specimen records | synonymy |
M. wistarmorrisi
ANSP 413302 (holotype, ex INHS 26299) Cuanza River, near Malanje, Angola.
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Genus Chelidonopsis
Ch. hirundo
UMMZ 112004 Congo River, Malebo Pool, Kinshasa, DRC.
Distribution. — Endemic to the Congo Basin, up through the Lualaba, including the Cassai and Cuango.
specimen records | synonymy
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Genus Aspatharia
A. rugifera
UMMZ 111950 Biles, Cameroon.
Distribution. — The typical range of Aspatharia rugifera extends from Cameroon south to the Niari River in the Republic of the Congo. It has been reported it from the Cunene, but that record remains to be verified.
specimen records | synonymy |
A. semicorrugata
MCZ 83458 Congo River, Malebo Pool, Kinshasa, DRC.
Distribution. — In the Congo, known from Malebo Pool to above Kisangani (including the Cassai). Not specifically recorded from within the borders of Angola.
specimen records | synonymy |
A. pfeifferiana "Complex"
ANSP 146179. Congo Estuary, Banana, DRC.
Distribution. — Widespread from the Chad-Chari Basin, south through the Congo, from the mouth up to the Chambeshi River in Zambia.
specimen records | synonymy |
A. subreniformis
MCZ 88958 Cunene River, Calueque, Angola.
Holotype of Anodon subreniformis Sowerby. BMNH 1965192 Lake Malawi.
Distribution — Apparently widespread in southern Africa from the Cunene east through the Okavango and the Zambezi, including Lake Malawi.
specimen records | synonymy |
Genus Chambardia
Ch. wissmanni
UMMZ 111918 “Upper Congo”.
Distribution. — Widespread in West Africa and the upper Congo. The type was listed as being from the Lubilash River (Cassai Basin), but not from within the borders of Angola.
specimen records | synonymy |
Ch. wahlbergi
UMMZ 248918 Zambezi River, near Livingstone, Zambia.
Distribution. — Widely distributed in southern and eastern Africa, as well as the Nile and West Africa. A single, juvenile specimen has been reported from the Okavango River at the confluence with the Omatako-Omuramba, and specimens from the Nata and Maitengwe have also been recorded. Otherwise, Ch. wahlbergi is known only from the Upper Zambezi in the Angola region. It has been suggested that specimens from the Okavango Basin might be Ch. moutai, and the specimens that we have seen from the Kafue in Zambia superficially resemble that species as well. Not reported from within the borders of Angola.
specimen records | synonymy |
Ch. welwitschi
MCZ 72822 Lucala River, Angola.
Distribution. — Known from the Cuanza Basin in Angola, and perhaps the Upper Zambezi.
specimen records | synonymy |
Ch. moutai
ANSP 219044 Cunene River, Capelongo, Angola.
Distribution. — From the Cunene River, Angola; specimens reported from the Cuvelai might also be Ch. moutai.
specimen records | synonymy |
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