MUSSELp
 
MUSSELpdb
 
 
Taxonomy
 
 
Geography
 
 
 

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!

Search the database pages:

Bivalvia | Unionoida | Unionoidea | Unionidae | Parreysiinae | Coelaturini | Pseudospatha

species Pseudospatha tanganyicensis (E.A. Smith, 1880): synonymy
     138 specimens + 6 Genbank vouchers

Spatha tanganyicensis E.A. Smith, 1880
E.A. Smith, 1880. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1880: 350, pl. 31, fig. 8-8a.
(renamed Burtonia tanganikana Bourguignat, 1883)
Type(s): HOLOTYPE BMNH_80-3-5-48, Lake Tanganyika.

Pseudospatha tanganyicensisSimpson (1900), Kobelt (1910), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Thiele (1934), ... Bogan (2010), Graf & Cummings (2011), Zieritz et al. (2013), Ortiz-Sepulveda et al. (2020), Graf & Cummings (2021)
Burtonia tanganyicensisE.A. Smith (1904), E.A. Smith (1906)

Burtonia livingstoniana Bourguignat, 1883
E.A. Smith, 1880. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1880: pl. 31, fig. 8a [as ‘Spatha tanganyicensis’]. [in part]
E.A. Smith, 1881. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1881: 296, pl. 34, fig. 32 [as ‘Spatha tanganyicensis’].
Bourguignat, 1883. Moll. Fluv. Nyanza: 23.
Bourguignat, 1886. Esp. Nouv. et Genres Nouv. Lac Oukékérewe et Tanganika: 38.
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 32.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 59.

Pseudospatha livingstonensis [sic]Simpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Burtonia tanganyicensisE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha livingstonianaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis livingstonianaPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998), IUCN (2010)
Mandahl-Barth (1988)

Burtonia tanganikana Bourguignat, 1883
E.A. Smith, 1880. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1880: 350, pl. 31, fig. 8 [as ‘Spatha tanganyicensis’].
Bourguignat, 1883. Moll. Fluv. Nyanza: 20, footnote.
Bourguignat, 1886. Esp. Nouv. et Genres Nouv. Lac Oukékérewe et Tanganika: 38.
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 32.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 59.
(new name for Spatha tanganyicensis E.A. Smith, 1880)

Burtonia tanganyicensisE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Leloup (1950), Pain & Woodward (1968), Daget (1998)

Burtonia bourguignati Bourguignat, 1886
‘Joubert’ in litt. Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 32, 38.
‘Joubert’ Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 59, pl. 27, figs. 4-5.
Type(s): SYNTYPE MNHN_MP_0174, Kibanga.

Pseudospatha bourguignatiSimpson (1900), Kobelt (1910), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Burtonia bourguignatiE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme bourguignatiLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998), IUCN (2010)

Burtonia bridouxi Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 32, 37.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 59.
Type(s): SYNTYPES MNHN_MP_0185, Kibanga (Lac Tanganyika).

Pseudospatha bridouxiSimpson (1900)
Burtonia bridouxiE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha bridouxiana [sic]Kobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha livingstonensis [sic]Simpson (1914)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis livingstonianaPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)

Burtonia contorta Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 33, 39.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 57, pl. 26, figs. 3-5.
Type(s): SYNTYPE MNHN_MP_0212, Kibanga.

Pseudospatha livingstonensis [sic]Simpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Burtonia contortaE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha contortaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis livingstonianaPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)
Mandahl-Barth (1988)

Burtonia elongata Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 32, 34.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 55, pl. 25, fig. 3.
Type(s): SYNTYPE MNHN_MP_0236, Kibanga (Lac Tanganyika).

Pseudospatha livingstonensis [sic]Simpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Burtonia elongataE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha elongataKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis livingstonianaPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)
Mandahl-Barth (1988)

Burtonia grandidieriana Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 33, 42.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 59, pl. 27, figs. 1-3.
Type(s): SYNTYPE MNHN_MP_0181, Kibanga (Lac Tanganyika).

Pseudospatha subtriangularisSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Burtonia grandidierianaE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha grandidierianaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme subtriangularisLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)

Burtonia jouberti Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 33, 40.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 59.
Type(s): SYNTYPE MNHN_MP_0222, Kibanga (Lac Tanganyika).

Pseudospatha joubertiSimpson (1900), Kobelt (1910)
Burtonia joubertiE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisSimpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Leloup (1950), Pain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)

Burtonia lavigeriana Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 32, 36.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 53, pl. 24, figs. 1-4.
Type(s): SYNTYPE MNHN_MP_0219, Kibanga (Lac Tanganyika).

Pseudospatha tanganyicensisSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Pain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)
Burtonia lavigerianaE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha lavigerianaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Mandahl-Barth (1988)

Burtonia magnifica Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 33, 41.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 57, pl. 26, figs. 1-2.
Type(s): SYNTYPE MNHN_MP_0244, Kibanga (Lac Tanganyika).

Pseudospatha tanganyicensisSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Leloup (1950), Pain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)
Burtonia magnificaE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha magnificaKobelt (1910)

Burtonia moineti Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 32, 33.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 55, pl. 25, fig. 1.
Type(s): SYNTYPE MNHN_MP_0273, Kibanga (Lac Tanganyika).

Pseudospatha tanganyicensisSimpson (1900), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Leloup (1950), Pain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)
Burtonia moinetiE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha moinetiKobelt (1910)

Burtonia subtriangularis Bourguignat, 1886
Bourguignat, 1886. Nouv. Malac.: Unio. Iridin. Lac Tanganika: 32, 35.
Bourguignat, 1888. Iconogr. Malac. Lac Tanganika: 55, pl. 25, fig. 2.
Type(s): SYNTYPES MNHN_MP_0312, Kibanga (Lac Tanganyika).

Pseudospatha subtriangularisSimpson (1900), Kobelt (1910), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Burtonia subtriangularisE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme subtriangularisLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998), IUCN (2010)

Burtonia lavigerina Simpson, 1900
‘Bourguignat’ of Authors.
Simpson, 1900. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 22: 577.
Simpson, 1914. Descr. Cat. Naiades: 204.
Pain & Woodward, 1968. Rev. Zool. Botan. Afr. 77: 213.
(error for Burtonia lavigeriana Bourguignat, 1886)

Burtonia livingstonensis Simpson, 1900
‘Bourguignat’ Simpson, 1900. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 22: 578.
‘Bourguignat’ Simpson, 1914. Descr. Cat. Naiades: 205.
(error for Burtonia livingstoniana Bourguignat, 1883)

Pseudospatha tanganyicensis livingstonianaPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisDaget (1998)

Burtonia foai Mabille, 1901
Mabille, 1901. Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris 3: 58.
Type(s): HOLOTYPE MNHN_MP_0256, Lac Tanganyika.

Burtonia foaiE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha foaiKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisSimpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Leloup (1950), Pain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998), IUCN (2010)

Burtonia livingstoni Germain, 1905
‘Bourguignat’ Germain, 1905. Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. 11: 260.
Germain, 1908. Résult. Sci. Voyage Afrique FOA: 687.
(error for Burtonia livingstoniana Bourguignat, 1883)

Pseudospatha livingstonensis [sic]Simpson (1914)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis livingstonianaPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Daget (1998)

Pseudospatha ortmanni Pilsbry & Bequaert, 1927
Pilsbry & Bequaert, 1927. Bull. AMNH 53: 446, pl. 45, figs. 5, 7.
Type(s): HOLOTYPE (ORIG. DESIG.) ANSP_132188, Toa Bay, 5 m., L. Tanganyika, Shaba Province, 05 40 S; 029 20 E.

Pseudospatha ortmanniPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998), IUCN (2010)
Mandahl-Barth (1988)

Pseudospatha stappersi Pilsbry & Bequaert, 1927
Pilsbry & Bequaert, 1927. Bull. AMNH 53: 446, pl. 54, fig. 6.
Type(s): HOLOTYPE ANSP_132189, Kilwa Bay, L. Tanganyika.

Pseudospatha stappersiPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme stappersiLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998), IUCN (2010)
Mandahl-Barth (1988)

Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme bequaerti Leloup, 1950
Leloup, 1950. Res. Sci. Explor. Hydrob. Lac Tanganyika (1946-1947) 3: 122, figs. 56B, f9B, 60; pl. 5, fig. 5a.
(intro'd as intra-sp. of Spatha tanganyicensis E.A. Smith, 1880)
Type(s): HOLOTYPE IRSNB_MP_0480, Tanganika.

Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme bequaertiLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968), Haas (1969), Daget (1998)

Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme typica Leloup, 1950
Leloup, 1950. Res. Sci. Explor. Hydrob. Lac Tanganyika (1946-1947) 3: 111, figs. 53A, 54C-D, 56A, 57B, 60; pl. 7, fig. A.
(intro'd as intra-sp. of Spatha tanganyicensis E.A. Smith, 1880)

Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme typicaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisDaget (1998)

Spatha tanganyicensis E.A. Smith, 1880
E.A. Smith, 1880. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1880: pl. 31, fig. 8a. [in part]
E.A. Smith, 1881. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1881: 296, pl. 34, fig. 32.
(reference to Spatha tanganyicensis E.A. Smith, 1880)

Pseudospatha livingstonensis [sic]Simpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis livingstonianaPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensisPain & Woodward (1968)

Burtonia tanganyikana E.A. Smith, 1904
‘Bourguignat’ E.A. Smith, 1904. Proc. Malac. Soc. London 6(2): 102.
(error for Burtonia tanganikana Bourguignat, 1883)

Pseudospatha bridouxiana Kobelt, 1910
‘Bourguignat’ Kobelt, 1910. Abh. Senckenb. Naturf. Ges. 32: 86.
(error for Burtonia bridouxi Bourguignat, 1886)

Mutela soleniformisDaget (1998)

Burtonia magnipica Simpson, 1914
‘Bourguignat’ Simpson, 1914. Descr. Cat. Naiades: 204.
(error for Burtonia magnifica Bourguignat, 1886)

Taxonomic History (since 1900)

Pseudospatha tanganyicensisSimpson (1900), Kobelt (1910), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927), Thiele (1934), ... Bogan (2010), Graf & Cummings (2011), Zieritz et al. (2013), Ortiz-Sepulveda et al. (2020), Graf & Cummings (2021)
Pseudospatha livingstonensis [sic]Simpson (1900), Simpson (1914)
Pseudospatha bourguignatiSimpson (1900), Kobelt (1910), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha bridouxiSimpson (1900)
Pseudospatha subtriangularisSimpson (1900), Kobelt (1910), Simpson (1914), Pilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha joubertiSimpson (1900), Kobelt (1910)
Burtonia tanganyicensisE.A. Smith (1904), E.A. Smith (1906)
Burtonia bourguignatiE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia bridouxiE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia contortaE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia elongataE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia grandidierianaE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia joubertiE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia lavigerianaE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia magnificaE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia moinetiE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia subtriangularisE.A. Smith (1904)
Burtonia foaiE.A. Smith (1904)
Pseudospatha livingstonianaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha bridouxiana [sic]Kobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha contortaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha elongataKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha grandidierianaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha lavigerianaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha magnificaKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha moinetiKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha foaiKobelt (1910)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis livingstonianaPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha ortmanniPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha stappersiPilsbry & Bequaert (1927)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme livingstonianaLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme bourguignatiLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme subtriangularisLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme stappersiLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme bequaertiLeloup (1950)
Pseudospatha tanganyicensis forme typicaLeloup (1950)
Mandahl-Barth (1988)
Mutela soleniformisDaget (1998)

 
NSF icon MUSSEL icon
"Making the world a better place, one mollusk at a time."