In our previous blog we talked about the nearly extinct genus of freshwater mussels, Epioblasma. Here we present a sobering/depressing gallery of most of its species. Specimens are female individuals.

Purple Catspaw
Upper Ohio River system
Federally endangered

Cumberlandian Combshell
Tennessee River system
Federally endangered

Oyster Shell
Tennessee River system
Federally endangered

Leafshell
Ohio River system
Extinct

Northern Riffleshell
Ohio River-Great Lakes
Federally endangered

Southern Combshell
Mobile River system
Federally endangered

Duck River Oystershell
Duck River
Federally endangered

Yellow Blossom
Tennessee River system
Extinct

Acornshell
Tennessee River system
Extinct

Round Combshell
Ohio River system
Extinct

White Catspaw
Maumee River system
Probably extinct

Ahlstedt’s Oystershell
Tennessee River system
Federally endangered

Curtis Pearlymussel
Black River system
Possibly extinct

Forkshell
Ohio River system
Extinct

Sugarspoon
Tennessee River system
Extinct

Snuffbox
Ohio River – Great Lakes
Federally endangered

Southern Acornshell
Coosa River system
Possibly extinct

Tubercled Blossom
Ohio River system
Extinct

Cumberland Leafshell
Tennessee River system
Extinct

Turgid Blossom
Duck River
Extinct

Upland Combshell
Coosa River system
Federally endangered

Tan Riffleshell
Duck River
Federally endangered
About the Author: Dr. G. Thomas Watters is Curator of Molluscs at the Museum of Biological Diversity.