Nongame and Rare Species Program: Freshwater Mussels of Texas

Freshwater mussels are an important component of healthy aquatic ecosystems, playing important roles in nutrient cycling, water quality maintenance, and stream-bed habitat structure. They also represent an important prey base for other organisms.

Populations of these invertebrates have declined precipitously across North America. Most species are very sensitive to disturbance due to their sedentary lifestyle and dependence upon good water quality. Habitat alteration and loss, illegal and over-harvesting, and competition from introduced species are some of the factors in their decline. Nationwide, more species of freshwater mussels are listed as threatened and endangered than any other group of animals.

• Conservation Status of Texas Freshwater Mussels

• Federal and State Listing Actions
• Oct. 6, 2011: USFWS 12-month Finding to List Five Central Texas Mussels as Threatened or Endangered | PDF
• Jan. 8, 2010: TPWD Lists 15 Freshwater Mussels as State Threatened | PDF

• Identification
• Guide to Photographing Freshwater Mussels (Howells) | PDF
• Joseph Britton Freshwater Mussel Collection
• Obovaria vs. Pleurobema Identification Issues (Howells) | PDF
• Status of the Wabash Pigtoe (Fusconaia flava) in Texas (Howells) | PDF
• Triangle Pigtoe (Fusconaia lananensis): Confusion with Louisiana Fatmucket (Howells) | PDF

• Publications and Reports

• Links
• Texas Mussel Watch
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Texas Mussels