MUSSELpdb

Taxonomy

all genera

Summary

Species & Genus Richness of
freshwater mussels
by Taxonomy

Species & Genus Richness of
freshwater bivalves
by Family

Geography

Species Richness & Endemism of
freshwater mussels
by Geography

Data last updated
Mon 2 March 2026

species Unio caffer Krauss, 1848: specimens

22 available nominal species synonyms (31 total synonyms)

Recent Taxonomic Opinions

Cafferia caffra — Graf & Cummings (2007), Hoeh et al. (2009), Bogan (2010), Graf & Cummings (2011), Reis et al. (2013), Marshall et al. (2014)
Cafferia caffer — Jadhav & Jamkhedkar (2009)
Unio caffer — Araujo et al. (2009), IUCN (2010), Whelan et al. (2011), Zieritz et al. (2015), Froufe et al. (2016), Sonamzi et al. (2019), Graf & Cummings (2021), Bieler (2021), Lopes-Lima et al. (2021), Lyubas et al. (2022), Campbell & Lydeard (2026)

Range

Southern Africa, north to the Zambezi. (Afrotropics: AF4)

Map of Georeferenced Specimens

specimens map of Unio caffer

MUSSELp Specimen Records

SMF_15122
Kap d. G Hoffnung, S. Afr.

BMNH_1937-12-30-13141
Khami

SMF_297012
SWA: Orange - Faherhalle [?] ....

Malawi

MRAC_56589 Brit. C. Afr.: Silongwe	MRAC_56589 Brit. C. Afr.: Silongwe	MRAC_56592 Brit. C. Afr.: Silongwe
MRAC_56592 Brit. C. Afr.: Silongwe	MRAC_56859 Brit. C. Afr.: Silongwe

South Africa

ZMB_MP_0456 “New Zealand” [South Africa]	ZMB_12327 “New Zealand” [South Africa]	SMF_15129 A.d. Crocodile River, bei Malelane, Ost Transvaal
MCZ_110951 Aberdeen, Cape Province	IRSNB_MP_0896 Afrique Sud	BMNH_MP_508 Algoa Bay
BMNH_MP_527 Algoa Bay	IRSNB_MP_0888 Algoa Bay, S. Africa	BMNH_1937-12-30-13143-13144 Alicedale, C.P.
SMF_15132 Altwasser des Olifants River, bei Pont zwischen Satara und Letaba, Ost., Transvaal	SMF_15132 Altwasser des Olifants River, bei Pont zwischen Satara und Letaba, Ost., Transvaal	ZMB_41763 Am Vaal zwinden Kimberley und Christiana, Transvaal
BMNH_1937-12-30-13142 Barclay River, non loin des mines de diamants du Griqualand West, Africa	USNM_424252 Barkly West, Bechuanaland	USNM_424252 Barkly West, Bechuanaland
USNM_424251 Barkly West, Bechuanaland	USNM_424251 Barkly West, Bechuanaland	SMF_106 Bergville, Tugela River, Natal, S. Afr.
BMNH_MP_510 Blaaukrantz, Cape Province	BMNH_1937-12-30-13145-13146 Blaaukrantz, Cape Province	SMF_15130 Black Umfolozi River, Bei Mazima Hil, Zululand
SMF_15130 Black Umfolozi River, Bei Mazima Hil, Zululand	MCZ_52457 Bushmans River, Alicedale, South Africa	SMF_3540 Bushmans River, bei Alicedale, Cape Prov.
USNM_85233 C. Good Hope	USNM_85233 C. Good Hope	USNM_85233 C. Good Hope
USNM_84418 C. Good Hope	USNM_84418 C. Good Hope	MNHN_MP_1058 Cap de Bonne Esperance
MNHN_MP_1061 Cap de Bonne Esperance	ZMB_MP_0406 Cap p sp. [?]	IRSNB_MP_0281 Cape b. Esp.
ANSP_125802 Cape Colony	AMNH_35523 Cape Colony, Cape of Good Hope [South Africa]	AMNH_35523 Cape Colony, Cape of Good Hope [South Africa]
AMNH_61951 Cape Colony, Cape of Good Hope [South Africa]	IRSNB_MP_0282 Cape du Bu. Esp.	IRSNB_MP_0283 Cape du Bu. Esp.
MCZ_17042 Cape of Good Hope	USNM_125817 Cape of Good Hope	USNM_125817 Cape of Good Hope
USNM_125817 Cape of Good Hope	USNM_125817 Cape of Good Hope	MRAC_56787 Cape of Good Hope
ANSP_125503 Cape of Good Hope	BMNH_MP_525 Cape of Good Hope	BMNH_76-5-19-22 Cape of Good Hope
MCZ_MP.244 Cape of Good Hope, Cape Province, South Africa	AMS_127033 Cape of Good Hope, South Africa	AMS_127032 Cape of Good Hope, South Africa
AMNH_30820 Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Africa	MCZ_240231 Cape of Good Hope, Union of South Africa	BMNH_MP_522 Cape Province
BMNH_1954-6-2-1450-1452 Cape, S. Africa	USNM_424255 Cradock CP, C Colony	USNM_424255 Cradock CP, C Colony
SMF_15117 Crocodile Drift, Limpopo River, bei Pretoria, S. Afr.	BMNH_MP_526 Crocodile River	BMNH_MP_503 Crocodile River, Transvaal
USNM_424254 Culdale, Steylerville, C Colony	USNM_424254 Culdale, Steylerville, C Colony	MNHN_MP_1059 Durban, Natal
MCZ_218808 East London, Cape Province, South Africa	SMF_833 Elands River, Pretoria Distr. Transvaal	ZMB_MP_0398 Elephant fluss ...
SMF_6546 Ermelo, Transvaal	MNHN_MP_1060 Flueve Orange, Rive Nord en face de Sendeling	MCZ_240249 freshwater pools at Blauw Krantz, Grahamstown, Union of South Africa
USNM_162772 Grahamstown, Cape Colony	USNM_162772 Grahamstown, Cape Colony	SMF_15128 Grear Letaba River, bei Letaba Camp Ost Transvaal
ANSP_48959 Gwelera River, East London District, Ciskei 32.53 S; 28.02.15 E	ANSP_48959 Gwelera River, East London District, Ciskei 32.53 S; 28.02.15 E	UMMZ_60409 Hennops River, Irene, Transvaal, South Africa
MCZ_99783 Hlazifumme, Kruger National Park, Transvaal	ZMB_MP_0394 I have no idea	FMNH_21727 Irene, 9 mi S Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa
ANSP_48415 Junction of Elands and Wilge rivers, Pretoria District, Transvaal, Africa	ZMB_41762 Kalksp..mil .... Vaal und Heidelberg, Transvaal	SMF_15118 Kapkolonie, S. Afr.
SMF_15124 Kapkolonie, S. Afr.	SMF_15116 Kapkolonie, S. Afr.; Cape Flats, Cape Colony	BMNH_MP_509 Kiooi River, Porcheptroon, Transvaal (= Potchefstroom)
BMNH_1937-12-30-13859 Klein Karas, Great Namaqualand	FMNH_31035 Kleinmond River, near Port Alfred, C.P. South Africa	ANSP_189005 Kleinmonde River, Port Alfred, S. Afr.
AMNH_100922 Kleinmonde River, Port Alfred, South Africa	SMF_15121 Kowie River, bei Blaawkrantz, n Grahamstown, Kapkolonie, S. Afr.	MNHN_MP_0180 la Vaal, Afrique Australe
MNHN_MP_0180 la Vaal, Afrique Australe	IRSNB_MP_0835 Le Nil [South Africa]	MNHN_MP_1065 le Vaal
MCZ_99758 Letaba River, near camp, Kruger National Park, Transvaal	CM_61.8627 Lindague Spruit [?], (trib. of Little Tugela River) Natal [Africa]	SMF_108 Lindegue Spruit, Nebenfl. d. Little Tugela, Natal
SMF_287 Little Brak River, Middleburg Division, Kapkolonie, S. Afr.	SMF_15113 Middleburg Division, Kap-Kolonie, S. Afr.	SMF_15113 Middleburg Division, Kap-Kolonie, S. Afr.
BMNH_89-11-4-4 Midlands, Natal	BMNH_89-11-4-5 Midlands, Natal	IRSNB_MP_2007 Napier River, Pretoria, Transvaal
MCZ_MP.243 Natal	BMNH_1964215 Natal	USNM_84144 Natal
USNM_84144 Natal	USNM_84144 Natal	USNM_84144 Natal
MRAC_56407 Natal	MRAC_56412 Natal	MNHN_MP_1064 Natal
MNHN_MP_1064 Natal	BMNH_79-11-16-1-2 Natal	SMF_15126 Natal, S. Afr.
USNM_127186 Natal, So. Afr.	USNM_127186 Natal, So. Afr.	DMNH_19935 near Bethleham, T. Orpens Farm, Orange Free State, South Africa
UMMZ_111815 New Zealand [South Africa]	UMMZ_111815 New Zealand [South Africa]	SMF_15123 Ngqamakwe, S. Afr.
BMNH_1913-3-4-1-2 Orange River at Upington, Cape Colony	ZMB_MP_0415 P. Natal	SMF_15134 Pondoland, Kapkolonie, S. Afr.
SMF_168332 Pondoland, S. Afrika	ANSP_186854 Port Alfred, So. Africa	IRSNB_MP_0284 Port Eliz.
MNHN_MP_1063 Port Elizabeth	ZMB_15329 Port Elizabeth	BMNH_MP_523 Port Elizabeth
USNM_126303 Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope	USNM_126303 Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope	USNM_126303 Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope
MNHN_MP_1062 Port Natal	BMNH_61-7-3-21 Port Natal	BMNH_61-7-3-21 Port Natal
CM_61.1512 Port Natal [Africa]	USNM_85232 Port Natal, Africa	USNM_85232 Port Natal, Africa
ANSP_125501A Port Natal, Africa	ANSP_125501A Port Natal, Africa	ANSP_125501A Port Natal, Africa
ANSP_355358 Port Natal, Natal Province, South Africa	SMF_832 Premier Co.’s Dam, junction of Wilge River, Bronkhorst Spriut, Pretoria District, S. Afr.	CM_61.8628 Premier Mine Pumping Station, junction of Elands and Wilge Rivers, near Pretoria, Transvaal
MCZ_134111 Premier Mine Pumping Station, junction of Elands and Wilge rivers, Pretoria District, Transvaal	MRAC_56761 Pretoria	MCZ_83551 Pretoria, Transvaal, Africa
SMF_15120 Pretoria, Transvaal, S. Afr.	BMNH_1907-12-30-13131-13132 Retreat Viei [?], C.P.	IRSNB_MP_0831 Riviere du Elephant au Transvaal
IRSNB_MP_0905 Riviere du Vaal	SMF_3539 S. Afr. Vaal b. Barclay	SMF_3539 S. Afr. Vaal b. Barclay
USNM_128816 S. Africa	USNM_128816 S. Africa	USNM_128816 S. Africa
SMF_15114 Somerset East, Kapkolonie, S. Afr.	CM_61.1513 Songaal (?) River, Natal [Africa]	FMNH_68300 South Africa
FMNH_9355 South Africa	USNM_738194 South Africa	USNM_738194 South Africa
USNM_738194 South Africa	UMMZ_22869 South Africa	BMNH_1907-10-28-183 South Africa
AMS_5507 South Africa	AMS_127034 South Africa	ANSP_125730 Southendal’s Valley, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Colony
MCZ_110950 Steytlerville, Cape Province	ZMB_MP_0445 Sudafrica	SMF_15119 Sudafrica
SMF_297014 SWA: Nabas - Drift ca. 28° 15’ S / 17° 22’ E	FMNH_115945 Transvaal, South Africa	SMF_15127 Tumpel Trockenbell des Mawobje Creeks, Zufluss des Gr. Letaba Rivers bei Letaba Camp, Ost, Transvaal
BMNH_1903-10-30-71 Umkonto River, Piet Relief, Transvaal	ANSP_41686 Umpingave River, Natal, S. Afr.	ANSP_41686 Umpingave River, Natal, S. Afr.
ANSP_41686 Umpingave River, Natal, S. Afr.	SMF_288 Umsindusi River, Maritzburg, Natal, S. Afr.	SMF_15133 Umsindusi River, maritzburg, Natal,S. Afr.
ZMB_33076 Vaal fluss Voaluiz [?]	ANSP_133833 Vaal River, Africa	BMNH_1902-12-29-8-9 Vaal River, Boschland, NW of Woenhoeck [?]
BMNH_1937-12-30-13134-13136 Vaal River, Christiania, Transvaal	BMNH_1948-5-5-1-5 Vaal River, Griqualand West	BMNH_MP_524 Vaal River, Kimberley
ZMB_MP_0414 Vaal, Afr. Sud	MCZ_52455 Wilge River, Pretoria District, Transvaal	SMF_15115 Witkop zw. Rietfontein- Süd u. Upington am Oranje, S. Afrika
SMF_15115 Witkop zw. Rietfontein- Süd u. Upington am Oranje, S. Afrika	MRAC_56411 Zululand

unknown

ZMB_MP_0436 [no locality available - Africa]	ZMB_27274 [no locality available - Africa]	ANSP_355359 [no locality available - Africa]
ZMB_MP_0407 [no locality available - Africa]	ANSP_125801 [no locality available - Africa]	BMNH_1965165 East Africa
BMNH_1965165 East Africa	BMNH_1965166 East Africa	SMF_3541 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari
SMF_3541 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari	SMF_3542 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari	SMF_3542 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari
SMF_3543 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari	SMF_3543 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari	SMF_3441 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari
SMF_3441 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari	SMF_3442 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari	SMF_3442 Hygap östl. v. Keheum, S. Kalahari
BMNH_74-12-11-4 Riv. Columbia	BMNH_74-12-11-4 Riv. Columbia	BMNH_74-12-11-4 Riv. Columbia
ZMB_MP_0386 Rudolf See	SMF_15125 W. Afrika ?

Zambia

BMNH_1937-12-30-13137-13140 Kafue River, Mumbwa Dist. [Rhodesia]	BMNH_1947-8-18-26-31 Kafue River, Namwala, N. Rhodesia	USNM_341222 Kafue, Rhodesia
USNM_341222 Kafue, Rhodesia	USNM_341222 Kafue, Rhodesia	USNM_341222 Kafue, Rhodesia
ANSP_413307 Zambezi River, near Livingstone, c. 2 km above Mosi-au-Tunya, Zambia

Zimbabwe

BMNH_1910-1-15-6 Banks of a strait, or on the veldt about 16 miles from Enkeldoorn, Mashonaland	BMNH_1910-1-15-6 Banks of a strait, or on the veldt about 16 miles from Enkeldoorn, Mashonaland	ANSP_161017 Ingezi R., S. Rhodesia, at Shangani
ANSP_161017 Ingezi R., S. Rhodesia, at Shangani	UMMZ_234710 Lundi River at Chilonga Crossing, about 24 km south of Chiredzi, Chiredzi District, Rhodesia	SMF_15131 Lundi River, (Gebiel des rhodesischen Sabi Rivers) bei Lundi Hotel zwischen Beitbridge und Fort Victoria, Sud Rhodesien
MRAC_56804 Mashonaland	BMNH_1937-12-30-13133 Victoria Falls