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Environment · Global desk · Single-source report

Five new mussel species reveal how much biodiversity US rivers still conceal

Five new mussel species have been discovered in US rivers, highlighting the vast biodiversity that still remains to be explored.

By Sanjay Suresh · Published · 3 min read
Five new mussel species reveal how much biodiversity US rivers still conceal — Environment report
Environment desk · NewNWS visual report
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The brief

Five new mussel species have been discovered in US rivers, highlighting the vast biodiversity that still remains to be explored.

Researchers from Shedd Aquarium, Arkansas State University, and the U.S.

Researchers from Shedd Aquarium, Arkansas State University, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have identified five new species of freshwater mussels in rivers across the southern United States. The study, published in Zootaxa, reveals that each major river basin has its own unique genetic lineage, demonstrating the complexity of freshwater biodiversity in the region. The researchers used a combination of genetic analysis and shell morphology to identify the new species, which were found in rivers in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas.

The five new species of freshwater mussels include the Mobile hickorynut (Obovaria sipseyensis), the White River Hickorynut (O. neeskaensis), the Big Thicket hickorynut (O. pinetorum), the Tallahatta hickorynut (O. tallahattae), and the Acolapissa hickorynut (O. lumbo). Each species has a unique shell shape, size, and coloration, and some are found in specific river basins or tributaries. The researchers named the species after their locations, with some names derived from Choctaw words meaning 'swamp' or 'pine forests'.

The discovery of these new species highlights the importance of continued research into freshwater biodiversity. Nathan Johnson, a study co-author and research biologist at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, said,

A closer look

The new species of freshwater mussels are not only important for their unique characteristics, but also for their role in maintaining water quality. As they feed, they strip out algae, sediment, nutrients, harmful bacteria, and metals from the water, making them sentinels of water quality. Freshwater mussels spend most of their lives half-buried in river bottoms, pumping water through their bodies, and can live for up to 100 years or more.

However, the study also highlights the imperiled status of freshwater mussels in North America. According to the USGS, 66% of North America's freshwater mussel species are at risk, making them the most imperiled group of animals in the region.

Single-source report

This report presents the named publisher’s account and has not yet been independently corroborated.

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