Field Guide

The shell of this mollusk is large and impressive in overall size. Although fairly flat, it can be more than 8 inches long. A large wing on the heelsplitter can be painful if you step on it.

Like the pink heelsplitter and fragile and pink papershells, the bluefer uses freshwater drum as a host.

The longpincered crayfish is large and colorful, with very long, slender, blue-green pincers that are studded with prominent yellowish knobs. It is restricted to the White River basin in the Ozarks.

Today found only in the Meramec River, the elephantear has been classified as endangered in Missouri and is a candidate for federal endangered status.

This endangered native mussel lives in flowing waters of large streams among gravel and cobble.

At one time the most valuable shell to the commercial button industry, the ebonyshell is now classified as endangered in Missouri and is a candidate for federal endangered status.

Before buttons were made of plastic, they were made of shell. Because only white buttons were in demand, the coppery-purple shell of this species made it worthless for the button industry.

The sheepnose has been classified as endangered in Missouri and is a candidate for federal endangered status.

Most people are repulsed by leeches. But once you get past the fact that many species are parasitic bloodsuckers, you will discover that they are fascinating creatures with an important role in nature.