MUSSELpdb | valid sp. Unio caffer specimens

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Page last updated
Thu 17 July 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!

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)

Range

Southern Africa, north to the Zambezi.

Map of Georeferenced Specimens

species map

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_12327 “New Zealand” [South Africa]	ZMB_MP_0456 “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_424251 Barkly West, Bechuanaland	USNM_424251 Barkly West, Bechuanaland
USNM_424252 Barkly West, Bechuanaland	USNM_424252 Barkly West, Bechuanaland	SMF_106 Bergville, Tugela River, Natal, S. Afr.
BMNH_1937-12-30-13145-13146 Blaaukrantz, Cape Province	BMNH_MP_510 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_84418 C. Good Hope	USNM_84418 C. Good Hope	USNM_85233 C. Good Hope
USNM_85233 C. Good Hope	USNM_85233 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.
ANSP_125503 Cape of Good Hope	BMNH_76-5-19-22 Cape of Good Hope	BMNH_MP_525 Cape of Good Hope
MCZ_17042 Cape of Good Hope	MRAC_56787 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
MCZ_MP.244 Cape of Good Hope, Cape Province, South Africa	AMS_127032 Cape of Good Hope, South Africa	AMS_127033 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
BMNH_1964215 Natal	BMNH_79-11-16-1-2 Natal	MCZ_MP.243 Natal
MNHN_MP_1064 Natal	MNHN_MP_1064 Natal	MRAC_56407 Natal
MRAC_56412 Natal	USNM_84144 Natal	USNM_84144 Natal
USNM_84144 Natal	USNM_84144 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.
BMNH_MP_523 Port Elizabeth	MNHN_MP_1063 Port Elizabeth	ZMB_15329 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
BMNH_61-7-3-21 Port Natal	BMNH_61-7-3-21 Port Natal	MNHN_MP_1062 Port Natal
CM_61.1512 Port Natal [Africa]	ANSP_125501A Port Natal, Africa	ANSP_125501A Port Natal, Africa
ANSP_125501A Port Natal, Africa	USNM_85232 Port Natal, Africa	USNM_85232 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]	AMS_127034 South Africa
AMS_5507 South Africa	BMNH_1907-10-28-183 South Africa	FMNH_68300 South Africa
FMNH_9355 South Africa	UMMZ_22869 South Africa	USNM_738194 South Africa
USNM_738194 South Africa	USNM_738194 South Africa	ANSP_125730 Southendal’s Valley, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Colony
MCZ_110950 Steytlerville, Cape Province	SMF_15119 Sudafrica	ZMB_MP_0445 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

ANSP_125801 [no locality available - Africa]	ANSP_355359 [no locality available - Africa]	ZMB_27274 [no locality available - Africa]
ZMB_MP_0407 [no locality available - Africa]	ZMB_MP_0436 [no locality available - Africa]	BMNH_1965165 East Africa
BMNH_1965165 East Africa	BMNH_1965166 East Africa	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
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
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

BMNH_1910-15-7-12. Banks of a strait, or on the veldt about 16 miles from Enkeldoorn, Mashonaland

Georeferenced Genbank Vouchers

South Africa

UMMZ_265692. (28S, COI) South Africa