Bivalvia | Sphaeriida | Sphaerioidea | Sphaeriidae | Sphaeriinae

genus Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777: synonymy

71 Recent freshwater species (73 total species)

Synonymy

Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777

Scopoli, 1777. Intro. His. Nat., etc.: 397.
Type species: Tellina cornea Linnaeus, 1758 = Sphaerium corneum

Nux Humphrey, 1797

Humphrey, 1797. Mus. Col.: 59.

Cyclas Lamarck, 1799

(renamed Cycladea Rafinesque, 1815)
Bruguière, 1797. Encycl. Méth. 2: 301.
Lamarck, 1799. Mém. Soc. Hist. Nat. 1: 84.
Type species: Tellina cornea Linnaeus, 1758 = Sphaerium corneum

Musculium Link, 1807

Link, 1807. Beschr. Natr. Samml. Univ. Rostock 3: 152.
Type species: Tellina lacustris Müller, 1774 = Sphaerium lacustre

Cornea Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1811

(renamed Corneocyclas Blainville, 1818)
Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1811. Mag. Ges. Nat. Fr. Berlin 5: 56.
Type species: Cornea communis Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1811 (monotypy) = Sphaerium corneum

Cycladea Rafinesque, 1815

(new name for Cyclas Lamarck, 1799)
Rafinesque, 1815. Analyse Nat.: 146.

Corneocyclas Blainville, 1818

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Cyclas Lamarck, 1799; new name for Cornea Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1811)
‘Féruss.’ Blainville, 1818. Dict. Sci. Nat. 12: 278.
Type species: Cornea communis Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1811 = Sphaerium corneum

Amesoda Rafinesque, 1820

(renamed Amesodon Agassiz, 1846; intro'd as sub-gen. of Cyclas Lamarck, 1799)
Rafinesque, 1820. Ann. Gén. Sci. Phys. 5 (13): 319.
Type species: Cyclas similis Say, 1817 = Sphaerium simile

Phymesoda Rafinesque, 1820

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Cyclas Lamarck, 1799)
Rafinesque, 1820. Ann. Gén. Sci. Phys. 5 (13): 319.

Cycladites Krueger, 1823

Krueger, 1823. Gesch. d. Urwelt. 165: 469.

Amesodon Agassiz, 1846

(new name for Ameroda Rafinesque, 1820; new name for Amesoda Rafinesque, 1820)
Agassiz, 1846. Nomencl. Zool. Index Univ.: 17.

Sphaeriastrum Bourguignat, 1854

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Bourguignat, 1854. Rev. Mag. Zool. 6: 668.
Bourguignat, 1854. Rev. Mag. Zool. 6: 674.
Type species: Cyclas rivicola Lamarck, 1818 = Sphaerium rivicola

Cyrenastrum Bourguignat, 1854

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Bourguignat, 1854. Rev. Mag. Zool. 6: 668.
Bourguignat, 1854. Rev. Mag. Zool. 6: 674.
Type species: Cyclas solida Normand, 1844 (orig. desig.) = Sphaerium solidum

Securilla Drouët, 1855

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Cyclas Brug.)
Drouët, 1855. Mém. Soc. Roy. Sci. Liége 10: 164.

Calyculina Clessin, 1872

Clessin, 1872. Malak. Blatt. 19: 159.
Westerlund, 1873. Fauna Moll. Terr. Fluv. Suec. Norv. Dan. (2): 490, 515.
Type species: Cyclas calyculata Draparnaud, 1806 = Sphaerium lacustre

Carneola Westerlund, 1873

(error for Corneola Westerlund, 1873)
Westerlund, 1873. Fauna Moll. Terr. Fluv. Suec. Norv. Dan. (2): 490.

Rivicoliana Servain, 1888

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Servain, 1888. Bull. Soc. Malac. France 5: 309.
Type species: Cyclas rivicola Lamarck, 1818 = Sphaerium rivicola

Lacustriana Servain, 1888

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Servain, 1888. Bull. Soc. Malac. France 5: 312.

Primella Cooper, 1892

Cooper, 1892. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 3: 82.

Pseudocorbicula Dautzenberg, 1908

Dautzenberg, 1908. J. de Conch. 56: 32.
Type species: Pseudocorbicula alluaudi Dautzenberg, 1908 = Sphaerium nyanzae

Serratisphoerium Germain, 1909

Germain, 1909. Arch. Zool. exp. gén. 1: 114.
Type species: Sphaerium courteti Germain, 1904 = Sphaerium hartmanni

Sphaerinova Iredale, 1943

Iredale, 1943. Austral. Zool. 10: 195.
Type species: Sphaerium macgillivrayi E.A. Smith, 1882 = Sphaerium tasmanicum

Nucleocyclas Alimov & Starobogatov, 1968

Alimov & Starobogatov, 1968. Moll. & Role in Ecosyst.: 14.
Type species: Cyclas nucleus Studer, 1820 = Sphaerium nucleus

Parasphaerium Alimov & Starobogatov, 1968

Alimov & Starobogatov, 1968. Moll. & Role in Ecosyst.: 14.
Type species: Sphaerium rectidens Starobogatov & Streletzkaja, 1967 = Sphaerium nitidum

Clessinicyclas Alimov & Starobogatov, 1968

Alimov & Starobogatov, 1968. Moll. & Role in Ecosyst.: 15.
Type species: Cyclas scaldiana Normand, 1844 = Sphaerium nucleus

Paramusculium Alimov & Starobogatov, 1968

Alimov & Starobogatov, 1968. Moll. & Role in Ecosyst.: 15.
Type species: Cyclas transversa Say, 1829 = Sphaerium transversum

Herringtonium Clarke, 1973

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Clarke, 1973. Malacologia 13(1-2): 148.
Type species: Cyclas occidentale Lewis, 1856 (orig. desig.) = Sphaerium occidentale

Asiocyclas Starobogatov & Korniushin, 1986

Starobogatov & Korniushin, 1986. unknown publication: ??.
Type species: Cyclas asiatica Martens, 1864 = Sphaerium asiaticum

Shadinicyclas Starobogatov & Korniushin, 1986

Starobogatov & Korniushin, 1986. unknown publication: ??.

Parvimusculium Starobogatov & Korniushin, 1986

Starobogatov & Korniushin, 1986. unknown publication: ??.
Type species: Cyclas creplini Dunker, 1845 = Sphaerium lacustre

Morimusculium Starobogatov, 1986

Starobogatov, 1986. unknown publication: ??.
Type species: Sphaerium miyadii Mori, 1933 = Sphaerium miyadii

Asiomusculium Starobogatov & Korniushin, 1986

Starobogatov & Korniushin, 1986. unknown publication: ??.
Type species: Cyclas calyculata var. inflata Middendorff, 1851 = Sphaerium asiaticum

Sibirisphaerium Slugina et al., 1994

Slugina & Starobogatov in Slugina et al., 1994. Ruthenica 4(2): 124.
Type species: Sphaerium (Corneola) westerlundi Clessin in Westerlund, 1873 = Sphaerium corneum

Pseudopisidium Korniushin, 1995

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Musculium Link, 1807)
Korniushin, 1995. J. Moll. Studies 61: 167.
Type species: Pisidium incomitatum Kuiper, 1966 (orig. desig.) = Sphaerium incomitatum

Musculum Paetel, 1875

(error for Musculium Link, 1807)
‘Link’ of Authors.
Paetel, 1875. Fam. Gatt. Moll.: 130.
Contreras-Arquieta, 2000. Mexicoa 2(1): 45.

Physemoda Prime, 1852

(error for Phymesoda Rafinesque, 1820)
‘Rafinesque’ of Authors.
Prime, 1852. Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6(3): 348.
Prime, 1860. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 12: 267.
Prime, 1865. Smithsonian Misc. Coll. (145): 59.

Cyclus Jurine, 1817

(error for Cyclas Lamarck, 1799)
Jurine, 1817. Helvet. Almanac: 37.
Anton, 1837. Arch. Naturg. 3 (1): 284.

Ameroda Rafinesque, 1820

(error for Amesoda Rafinesque, 1820; renamed Amesodon Agassiz, 1846)
Rafinesque, 1820. Ann. Gén. Sci. Phys. 5 (13): 319.

Phymeroda Rafinesque, 1820

(error for Phymesoda Rafinesque, 1820)
Rafinesque, 1820. Ann. Gén. Sci. Phys. 5 (13): 319.

Cyclos Krueger, 1823

(error for Cyclas Lamarck, 1799)
Krueger, 1823. Gesch. d. Urwelt. 165: 469.

Cyglas Oken, 1835

(error for Cyclas Lamarck, 1799)
Oken, 1835. Allg. Naturges.: 303.

Amisoda Deshayes, 1853

(error for Amesoda Rafinesque, 1820)
Deshayes, 1853. Cat. Bivalves Brit. Mus. part 1: 261.

Musculium Adams & Adams, 1857

(reference to Musculium Link, 1807)
Adams & Adams, 1857. Gen. Rec. Moll. 2(31-32): 165, 451.

Corneola Westerlund, 1873

(homonym of Held, 1837 [Gastrop.])
Westerlund, 1873. Fauna Moll. Terr. Fluv. Suec. Norv. Dan. (2): 503.
Type species: Tellina cornea Linnaeus, 1758 = Sphaerium corneum

Solidiana Servain, 1888

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Servain, 1888. Bull. Soc. Malac. France 5: 310.

Corneana Servain, 1888

(intro'd as sub-gen. of Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Servain, 1888. Bull. Soc. Malac. France 5: 311.

Caliculina Fischer & Crosse, 1894

(error for Calyculina Clessin, 1872)
Fischer & Crosse, 1894. Miss. Sci. Mexique, Rech. Zool. 2(16): 651.

Cornecyclas Hesse, 1916

(error for Corneocyclas Blainville, 1818)
Hesse, 1916. Nachr. Bl. Dtsch. Malak. Ges. 48: 123.
Type species: Cornea communis Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1811 = Sphaerium corneum

Musculinum Müller, 1921

(error for Musculium Link, 1807)
Müller, 1921. Arch. Moll. 52: 188.

Spaerium Schlesch, 1925

(error for Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Schlesch, 1925. Arch. Moll. 57(3): 93.

Spoerium Bowler-Kelley, 1928

(error for Sphaerium Scopoli, 1777)
Bowler-Kelley, 1928. C. R. Assoc. Franç. Avanc. Sci. 52: 454.

Serratisphaerium Thiele, 1934

(error for Serratisphoerium Germain, 1909)
Thiele, 1934. Handb. Syst. Weichtierk. 3: 853 [1297].
Vinarski & Kantor, 2016. Analyt. Cat. Fr. Brack. Moll. Russia: 85.
Type species: Sphaerium courteti Germain, 1904 = Sphaerium hartmanni

Taxonomic History (since 1900)

The Taxonomic History lists the ways authors have classified the species currently assigned to Sphaerium, since 1900.

Sphærium — Martens (1900), Pilsbry (1904), E.A. Smith (1906)
Sphærium (s.s.) — Dall (1903)
Sphærium (s.s. sec. Cyrenastrum) — Dall (1903)
Sphærium (s.s. sec. Sphæriastrum) — Dall (1903)
Sphærium (Musculium) — Dall (1903), Pilsbry (1904)
Sphærium (Corneola) — Pallary (1909)
Sphaerium — Annandale & Prashad (1921), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Srinivasa Rao (1928), F.C. Baker (1928), van Benthem Jutting (1931), ... Czaja et al. (2023), Prié et al. (2023), Halabowski et al. (2024), Prie et al. (2026), Bogan et al. (2026)
Pisidium — Pilsbry (1924), Kuiper (1966), Slugina (2006)
Sphaerium (Corneola) — Pallary (1924)
Eupera — Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Mansur & Meier-Brook (2000)
Pseudocorbicula — Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Thiele (1934)
Sphaerium (s.s.) — Thiele (1934), Zhadin (1965), Clarke (1973), Burch (1975), Subba Rao (1989), ... Starobogatov et al. (2004), Bank (2006), Vinarski & Kantor (2016), Fuentealba-Jara et al. (2017), Bespalaya et al. (2024)
Sphaerium (Amesoda) — Thiele (1934), Falkner et al. (2001), Lee & Ó Foighil (2003), Bespalaya et al. (2024)
Sphaerium (Sphaeriastrum) — Thiele (1934), Zhadin (1965), Mansur & Meier-Brook (2000)
Sphaerium (Cyrenastrum) — Thiele (1934), Zhadin (1965), Falkner et al. (2001), Korniushin & Glaubrecht (2002), Vinarski & Kantor (2016)
Sphaerium (Serratisphaerium) [sic] — Thiele (1934)
Sphaerium (Musculium) — Thiele (1934), Zhadin (1965), Clarke (1973), Lee & Ó Foighil (2003), Stunžėnas et al. (2011), Bespalaya et al. (2024)
Sphaerium (Herringtonium) — Clarke (1973), Burch (1975), Cooley & Ó Foighil (2000), Korniushin & Glaubrecht (2002), Lee & Ó Foighil (2003), Fuentealba-Jara et al. (2017), Bespalaya et al. (2024)
Musculium — Burch (1975), Mackie et al. (1980), Kuiper (1983), Kuiper et al. (1989), Turgeon et al. (1998), ... Clewing et al. (2020), Saito et al. (2022), Clewing et al. (2022), Czaja et al. (2023), Wu et al. (2023)
Sphaerium (Sphaerinova) — B.J. Smith (1992), Cooley & Ó Foighil (2000), Lee & Ó Foighil (2003), Fuentealba-Jara et al. (2017), Bespalaya et al. (2024), Ponder et al. (2025)
Musculium (Pseudopisidium) — Korniushin (1995)
Musculium (Sphaerinova) — Korniushin (2000)
Musculium (s.s.) — Korniushin (2000), Falkner et al. (2001), Starobogatov et al. (2004), Bank (2006), Vinarski & Kantor (2016)
Musculum [sic] — Contreras-Arquieta (2000)
Sphaerium (Nucleocyclas) — Falkner et al. (2001), Bank (2006), Vinarski & Kantor (2016)
Sphaerium (Parasphaerium) — Falkner et al. (2001), Vinarski & Kantor (2016)
Sphaerium (Rivicoliana) — Korniushin & Glaubrecht (2002), Vinarski & Kantor (2016)
Musculium (Morimusculium) — Starobogatov et al. (2004)
Musculium (Parvimusculium) — Starobogatov et al. (2004)
Paramusculium — Starobogatov et al. (2004), Kantor et al. (2010)
Rivicoliana — Starobogatov et al. (2004), Kantor et al. (2010)
Amesoda (Cyrenastrum) — Starobogatov et al. (2004)
Amesoda (Asiocyclas) — Starobogatov et al. (2004)
Amesoda (Clessinicyclas) — Starobogatov et al. (2004)
Sphaerium (Sibirisphaerium) — Starobogatov et al. (2004)
Parasphaerium — Starobogatov et al. (2004), Kantor et al. (2010)
Amesoda — Kantor et al. (2010)
Nucleocyclas — Kantor et al. (2010)
Musculium (Paramusculium) — Vinarski & Kantor (2016)
Euglesa (Conventus) — Vinarski & Kantor (2016)
“Sphaerium (S)” — Fuentealba-Jara et al. (2017)