LEGALLY-LISTED FRESHWATER MUSSELS IN TEXAS WATERS

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department lists these 15 species as legally threatened. Historical ranges shown do not reflect current distributions that have been dramatically reduced for all these species. Federally endangered Ouachita Rock-pocketbook (Arkansia wheeleri) has been found in Lamar County, Texas, as well.

In addition to legal listing, unionids and their shells are also protected in Texas by minimum harvest size limits: Washboard (102 mm shell height); Threeridge, pimplebacks, mapleleafs, Tampico Pearlymussel, & Bleufer (70 mm sh); and 64 mm sl for all other species. Many unionids never grow large enough to be legally taken in Texas.

Prepared by Robert G. Howells, BioStudies, Kerrville, Texas January 2012