ESA001-00299
Critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Cumberlandian combshell (Epioblasma brevidens). It has lures that look like fish eggs on top that are used to attract fish. When a fish strikes at the lures, the mussels then eject their larvae into the fish’s gills and are able to increase their distribution, even upstream. The Clinch River has more federally listed aquatic species than any river in North America, yet is threatened by pollution and habitat loss. Coal mining in the watershed now raises the threat even more.
Keywords
- black background
- brevidens
- captivity
- Clinch River
- Close-up
- combshell
- critically endangered
- cumberlandian
- cumberlandian combshell
- detail
- epioblasma
- epioblasma brevidens
- federally endangered
- Freshwater mussel
- front view
- mussel
- One
- Photo Ark
- rare
- studio
This photo © Joel Sartore 2023. Image usage guidelines
This photo is part of the Photo Ark.
