Field Guide

The virile crayfish is large, reddish brown or green, and lacks prominent markings. The pincers are green with orange tips and are studded with whitish knobs. Paired dark blotches run along the abdomen. This species is widespread.

These small mussels use darters, a type of fish, as hosts for their young.

The fatmucket was a favorite species harvested for the button industry in the early 1900s.

A common mussel in some areas, deertoe have decorative green markings.

A widespread mussel that relies on freshwater drum as host fish for the developing young.

When a floater dies, this large mussel with a thick shell will actually rise to the water surface and float as it decays.

These diminutive mollusks are the smallest of Missouri’s freshwater mussels.

One of the most widespread and numerous mussels in southern Missouri.

While the pimpleback is usually bumpy, some individuals are perfectly smooth.

A large dorsal wing and purple lining make identification of this widespread mussel easy.