Ohio has among the highest diversity of clams and mussels of any state in
the USA.  Yet, the distribution of these animals is often complex.  Many of
them are found only in streams that drain certain geological formations,
some are found only in rivers that have similar general description (for
example, big, slow, muddy rivers).  Because immature mussels (glochidia)
are parasitic in the gills of fish, some selective species are narrowly
distributed where a specific kind of host fish lives, while others will
parasitize many kinds of fishes and can be found nearly anywhere.  Click on
the names of the four chosen mussels below to see maps of their
distributions in Ohio.  Below the list of mussels are three links to maps
of river systems, the distribution of a host fish, and a map of the kind of
rocks and soil for parts of Ohio (physiographic map).  Each of the four
mussels is related to one of these features, and one mussel is a
generalist. Can you figure out which is which?

Links to Mussel distribution maps:

Links to:

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