한강서 사라진 '두드럭조개', 10월의 멸종위기 야생생물로
A Freshwater Mussel Gone From the Han River Is Named October's Endangered Species
Part of the October 4, 2026 daily edition
기후에너지환경부는 멸종위기 야생생물 Ⅰ급인 두드럭조개를 10월 ’이달의 멸종위기 야생생물’로 선정했다고 10월 1일 밝혔습니다. 한반도 고유종인 두드럭조개는 과거 한강에서도 발견됐지만, 1987년 채집 이후 추가 기록이 없어 한강에서는 절멸한 것으로 추정됩니다. 지금은 금강과 섬진강 수계 일부에서만 서식이 확인되며, 길이 약 9.1㎝로 국내 민물조개 가운데 중·대형종에 속합니다. 암컷은 10월께부터 바깥쪽 아가미 안의 보육낭에 유생을 품었다가 이듬해 4월께까지 물속으로 내보냅니다. 유생은 물고기 지느러미에 붙어 한동안 기생하며 자랍니다. 하천 개발과 강바닥 환경 변화, 무분별한 채집과 혼획, 숙주 물고기 감소가 주요 위협 요인으로 꼽힙니다.
Translation
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on October 1 that it had selected the 두드럭조개, a freshwater mussel listed as a Class I endangered wild species, as October's 'endangered wild species of the month'. The 두드럭조개, a species found only on the Korean Peninsula, was once also found in the Han River, but there has been no further record since it was collected in 1987, so it is presumed to have died out in the Han. It is now confirmed to live only in parts of the Geum River and Seomjin River systems, and at about 9.1 cm long, it is one of the medium-to-large freshwater mussels in Korea. From around October, females hold their larvae in brood pouches inside their outer gills and release them into the water until around April of the following year. The larvae attach to the fins of fish and grow there as parasites for a while. Habitat loss from river development and changes to the riverbed, careless collecting, accidental catches and a decline in host fish are named as the main threats.
Vocabulary
- 멸종위기명사 (noun)endangered (lit. danger of extinction)
- 고유종명사 (noun)endemic species
- 민물조개명사 (noun)freshwater mussel
- 절멸하다동사 (verb)to die out, to become extinct
- 서식명사 (noun)habitation, living (of wildlife)
- 유생명사 (noun)larva
- 기생하다동사 (verb)to live as a parasite
- 혼획명사 (noun)bycatch, accidental catch
Grammar points
-(으)ㄴ 것으로 추정되다to be presumed to have done
-(으)ㄴ 것으로 추정되다 reports a conclusion that is estimated, not confirmed: 절멸한 것으로 추정됩니다, (it) is presumed to have died out. News uses it to keep a careful distance from the claim.
Example: 한반도 고유종인 두드럭조개는 과거 한강에서도 발견됐지만, 1987년 채집 이후 추가 기록이 없어 한강에서는 절멸한 것으로 추정됩니다.
The 두드럭조개, a species found only on the Korean Peninsula, was once also found in the Han River, but there has been no further record since it was collected in 1987, so it is presumed to have died out in the Han.
-았/었다가did ~ and then (changed to another action)
-았/었다가 links a completed action to a different action that follows it: 품었다가 ... 내보냅니다, (they) hold (the larvae) and then release them.
Example: 암컷은 10월께부터 바깥쪽 아가미 안의 보육낭에 유생을 품었다가 이듬해 4월께까지 물속으로 내보냅니다.
From around October, females hold their larvae in brood pouches inside their outer gills and release them into the water until around April of the following year.
N(으)로 꼽히다to be named as N, to be counted as N
N(으)로 꼽히다 says that something is widely named as N: 주요 위협 요인으로 꼽힙니다, (they) are named as the main threats.
Example: 하천 개발과 강바닥 환경 변화, 무분별한 채집과 혼획, 숙주 물고기 감소가 주요 위협 요인으로 꼽힙니다.
Habitat loss from river development and changes to the riverbed, careless collecting, accidental catches and a decline in host fish are named as the main threats.
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