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Page last updated
Thu 3 September 2025

The Freshwater Mussels (Unionoida) of the World (and other less consequential bivalves)

FM(U)otW(aolcb) is the web version of the MUSSEL Project Database. Follow the links to browse the data or use the custom Google search field. Either way, you win!

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Bivalvia | Unionida | Hyrioidea | Hyriidae | Velesunioninae

genus Velesunio Iredale, 1934: cladomics
     5 Recent valid species (5 total species)

Cladomics Summary

number of species = 5 (5 total)
analyzed in 56 cladograms in 35 publications
maximum number of terminals in an analysis = 3 (mean = 1.23, median = 1)

Basic Monophyly

number of cladograms that test basic monophyly (i.e., more than 1 included species) = 11
maximum number of included terminals = 3, (mean = 2.18 median = 2)
proportion of cladograms that support basic monophyly = 0.09

Pairwise Cladogram Clustering

The graphs below depict in two dimensions all pair-wise ingroup distances within the cladome. See the Cladmoics FARQ for more information.


PCoA Ordination


NJ Tree

Campbell & Lydeard, 2026 [Publ 4810], fig. 6-14

** Top Monophyly Cladogram ** ** Top Sister-Group Cladogram **

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
38105627740
              +-------- Velesunio__1 **         
  +-----------+                              
  |           |  +----- Alathyria_jacksoni__1
  |           +--+                           
  |              |  +-- Velesunio_ambiguus **   
--+              +--+                        
  |                 +-- Alathyria_profuga    
  |                                          
  |  +----------------- Velesunio__3 **         
  |  |                                       
  +--+  +-------------- Microdontia          
     |  |                                    
     +--+           +-- Lortiella            
        |  +--------+                        
        |  |        +-- Velesunio_angasi **     
        +--+                                 
           |  +-------- Alathyria_pertexta__2
           +--+                              
              |  +----- Velesunio__2 **         
              +--+                           
                 |  +-- Alathyria_jacksoni__2
                 +--+                        
                    +-- Alathyria_pertexta__1

Walker et al., 2006 [Publ 2666], fig. 6

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
354533226
-- 2889

Santos-Neto et al., 2016 [Publ 3739], fig. 4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
2502184411.5
  +----------- Velesunio_ambiguus **
--+                              
  |  +-------- Alathyria         
  +--+                           
     |  +----- Velesunio_angasi **  
     +--+                        
        |  +-- Lortiella         
        +--+                     
           +-- Microdontia

Baker et al., 2004 [Publ 2685], fig. 2-3

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
23057118
           +-- Velesunio__3 **    
  +--------+                   
  |        +-- Velesunio__4 **    
--+                            
  |  +-------- Velesunio__2 **    
  +--+                         
     |  +----- Velesunio_angasi **
     +--+                      
        |  +-- Velesunio__1 **    
        +--+                   
           +-- Alathyria

Santos-Neto et al., 2016 [Publ 3739], fig. 2a_b

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
250218449.5
  +----------- Velesunio_ambiguus **
--+                              
  |  +-------- Microdontia       
  +--+                           
     |  +----- Lortiella         
     +--+                        
        |  +-- Alathyria         
        +--+                     
           +-- Velesunio_angasi **

Hoeh et al., 2009 [Publ 2716], fig. 3

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
230245119
  +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
--+                        
  |  +-- Velesunio_angasi **  
  +--+                     
     +-- Lortiella

Baker et al., 2003 [Publ 2690], fig. 5

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
2202600--
  +-- Velesunio_angasi **  
--+                     
  +-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Marshall et al., 2014 [Publ 3593], fig. 1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
2302121110.5
  +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
--+                        
  |  +-- Velesunio **         
  +--+                     
     +-- Lortiella

Hoeh et al., 2009 [Publ 2716], fig. 5

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
230244119
  +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
--+                        
  |  +-- Velesunio_angasi **  
  +--+                     
     +-- Lortiella

Hoeh et al., 2009 [Publ 2716], fig. 4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
230244119
  +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
--+                        
  |  +-- Velesunio_angasi **  
  +--+                     
     +-- Lortiella

Graf & Cummings, 2006 [Publ 1968], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
230245119
  +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
--+                        
  |  +-- Velesunio_angasi **  
  +--+                     
     +-- Lortiella

Graf et al., 2015 [Publ 3619], fig. 1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011964--
  +----------- Westralunio       
  |                              
  |     +----- Alathyria_jacksoni
--+  +--+                        
  |  |  |  +-- Velesunio_ambiguus **
  |  |  +--+                     
  +--+     +-- Alathyria_profuga 
     |                           
     |  +----- Alathyria_pertexta
     +--+                        
        |  +-- Microdontia       
        +--+                     
           +-- Lortiella

Hoeh et al., 2001 [Publ 2652], fig. 14f4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013011--
  +-- Lortiella       
--+                   
  +-- Velesunio_angasi **

Hoeh et al., 2001 [Publ 2652], fig. 14f2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013011--
-- Velesunio_angasi **

Combosch et al., 2017 [Publ 3806], fig. 1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011400--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Elderkin et al., 2016 [Publ 3693], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101200--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Sonowal et al., 2021 [Publ 4221], fig. 4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011500--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Bolotov et al., 2016 [Publ 3743], fig. 4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11012953--
     +----- Microdontia       
  +--+                        
  |  |  +-- Alathyria_pertexta
  |  +--+                     
--+     +-- Lortiella         
  |                           
  |  +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
  +--+                        
     |  +-- Alathyria_jacksoni
     +--+                     
        +-- Alathyria_profuga

Whelan et al., 2011 [Publ 3380], fig. 1-ML

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013500--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Wu et al., 2020 [Publ 4121], fig. S1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013300--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Lopes-Lima et al., 2020 [Publ 4080], fig. 2-4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
110112100--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Pfeiffer & Graf, 2015 [Publ 3620], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013900--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

González & Giribet, 2015 [Publ 3632], fig. 6

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101500--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Graf & Ó Foighil, 2000 [Publ 2649], fig. 1_2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011000--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Roe & Hoeh, 2003 [Publ 2655], fig. 4f3

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013011--
  +-- Velesunio_angasi **
--+                   
  +-- Lortiella

Bolotov et al., 2016 [Publ 3743], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11012953--
     +----- Microdontia       
  +--+                        
  |  |  +-- Lortiella         
  |  +--+                     
--+     +-- Alathyria_pertexta
  |                           
  |  +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
  +--+                        
     |  +-- Alathyria_jacksoni
     +--+                     
        +-- Alathyria_profuga

Klunzinger et al., 2022 [Publ 4259], fig. 1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101321--
  +-- Velesunio_ambiguus **
--+                     
  +-- Westralunio

Bogan & Hoeh, 2000 [Publ 2650], fig. 1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013311--
  +-- Velesunio_angasi **
--+                   
  +-- Lortiella

Roe & Hoeh, 2003 [Publ 2655], fig. 4f2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013011--
-- Velesunio_angasi **

González & Giribet, 2015 [Publ 3632], fig. 3

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101500--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Huang et al., 2019 [Publ 3843], fig. S4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
110120064--
     +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
  +--+                        
  |  |  +-- Alathyria_jacksoni
  |  +--+                     
--+     +-- Alathyria_profuga 
  |                           
  |  +----- Alathyria_pertexta
  +--+                        
     |  +-- Lortiella         
     +--+                     
        +-- Microdontia

Huang et al., 2019 [Publ 3843], fig. S3

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
110119864--
     +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
  +--+                        
  |  |  +-- Alathyria_jacksoni
  |  +--+                     
--+     +-- Alathyria_profuga 
  |                           
  |  +----- Alathyria_pertexta
  +--+                        
     |  +-- Lortiella         
     +--+                     
        +-- Microdontia

Klunzinger et al., 2021 [Publ 4086], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101521--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Bieler et al., 2014 [Publ 3622], fig. 28

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101400--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Sano et al., 2020 [Publ 4138], fig. 3

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11016800--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Graf, 2002 [Publ 2651], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011700--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Bieler et al., 2014 [Publ 3622], fig. 26_27_29_30

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101400--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Hoeh et al., 2002 [Publ 2653], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013011--
  +-- Velesunio_angasi **
--+                   
  +-- Lortiella

Whelan et al., 2011 [Publ 3380], fig. 1-MP

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013500--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

González & Giribet, 2015 [Publ 3632], fig. 4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101500--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Wu et al., 2020 [Publ 4121], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013300--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Sonowal et al., 2021 [Publ 4221], fig. 3b

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011400--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Huang et al., 2018 [Publ 3828], fig. 3_5

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11012800--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Pfeiffer & Graf, 2013 [Publ 3531], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11013000--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Lopes-Lima et al., 2018 [Publ 3829], fig. 1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11012700--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Lopes-Lima et al., 2017 [Publ 3745], fig. 1-2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11018000--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Bolotov et al., 2017 [Publ 3761], fig. S2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
110113853--
     +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
  +--+                        
  |  |  +-- Alathyria_jacksoni
  |  +--+                     
--+     +-- Alathyria_profuga 
  |                           
  |  +----- Microdontia       
  +--+                        
     |  +-- Alathyria_pertexta
     +--+                     
        +-- Lortiella

Bolotov et al., 2017 [Publ 3761], fig. S1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
110113853--
     +----- Alathyria_pertexta
  +--+                        
  |  |  +-- Microdontia       
  |  +--+                     
--+     +-- Lortiella         
  |                           
  |  +----- Velesunio_ambiguus **
  +--+                        
     |  +-- Alathyria_jacksoni
     +--+                     
        +-- Alathyria_profuga

Graf, 2000 [Publ 2647], fig. 1

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011600--
-- Velesunio **

González & Giribet, 2015 [Publ 3632], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
1101500--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Sano et al., 2020 [Publ 4138], fig. 4

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11016800--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Combosch et al., 2017 [Publ 3806], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011400--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Huang et al., 2019 [Publ 3843], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
110120064--
     +----- Alathyria_jacksoni
  +--+                        
  |  |  +-- Alathyria_profuga 
  |  +--+                     
--+     +-- Velesunio_ambiguus **
  |                           
  |  +----- Alathyria_pertexta
  +--+                        
     |  +-- Lortiella         
     +--+                     
        +-- Microdontia

Sano et al., 2020 [Publ 4138], fig. 2

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11016800--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Sonowal et al., 2021 [Publ 4221], fig. 3a

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11011400--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **

Lopes-Lima et al., 2018 [Publ 3829], fig. 3

iTtTbiriSoTroTroSiD
11012700--
-- Velesunio_ambiguus **
 
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