Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Corbicula largillierti (a clam, no common name) - Uncertain Risk

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Risk Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments. This additional information will help inform decisions on where, when, and how the species may be used to minimize risks of them becoming invasive.

Corbicula largillierti is a clam (a mollusk) indigenous to the Yangtze River region in China. C. largillierti has been recorded in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, where it was likely accidentally introduced. C. largillierti has also been reported within the United States, with 51 reports between 2008 and 2015, but no established populations have been documented. Much research has addressed the Corbicula genus, but many information gaps persist at the species level due to taxonomic uncertainty and the presence of clonal lineages. As a result, C. largillierti remains a species in need of more study. Macrofouling and other negative impacts have been associated with the presence of members of the genus Corbicula, but these impacts have not been specifically attributed to C. largillierti. It is possible, perhaps likely, Corbicula largillierti could have negative impacts where it occurs outside of its native range, but more research is needed to adequately assess its distribution and impacts of introduction. Climate match within the contiguous United States is high, with favorable climate occurring throughout much of the United States. Given the cryptogenic nature of Corbiculas and existing information gaps, the overall risk for C. largillierti within the contiguous United States is uncertain.