Southeastern mussels
The species profiles below are a one-stop-shop for information about the mussels the Service's Southeast region is responsible for protecting and/or recovering.
Appalachian elktoe
The Appalachian elktoe has a thin, kidney-shaped shell, extending to about 4 inches. Juveniles generally have a yellowish-brown periostracum (outer shell surface), while the periostracum of the adults is usually dark brown to greenish-black in color. Visit the species profile...
Appalachian elktoe in the Little River Translyvania County NC. Photo by Gary Peeples, USFWS.
Atlantic pigtoe
The Atlantic pigtoe is a small freshwater clam found in Virginia, North Carolina, and historically in South Carolina and Georgia. Visit the species profile...
Atlantic pigtoes ready for release. Photo by USFWS.
Cumberland bean
The Cumberland bean is a small mussel found in Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It is protected as an endangered species and can be found in river systems within the Cumberland River and Tennessee River drainages. Visit the species profile...
Cumberland bean juveniles reared at the Center for Mollusk Conservation in Frankfort, Kentucky. Photo by Monte McGregor, Center Mollusk Conservation, Kentucky DFWR.
Fanshell
The fanshell is a green and yellow, medium sized mussel found in various rivers in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. It is protected as an endangered species. Visit the species profile...
Photo by Monte McGregor, Center Mollusk Conservation, Kentucky DFWR.
Littlewing pearlymussel
The littlewing pearlymussel is a very small mussel found in cool-water streams in the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins in Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It is protected as an endangered species. Visit the species profile...
Photo by Monte McGregor, Center Mollusk Conservation, Kentucky DFWR.
Orangefoot pimpleback
The orangefoot pimpleback is a mussel found in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee rivers. Visit the species profile...
An orangefoot pimpleback mussel. Photo by Monte McGregor, Center Mollusk Conservation, Kentucky DFWR.
Ring pink
The orangefoot pimpleback is a mussel found in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee rivers. Visit the species profile...
Ring pink. Photo by Leroy Koch, USFWS.