Kentaro Inoue

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Scientists describe five new freshwater mussel species in southern US rivers

Lead author of the Zootaxa study

Five freshwater mussels that look nearly identical are now separate species. A team from the Shedd Aquarium, Arkansas State University and the US Geological Survey used DNA and shell measurements to split the genus Obovaria, naming the Mobile, White River, Big Thicket, Tallahatta and Acolapissa hickorynuts.

Updated Oct 21

Notable Quotes

Our results reveal previously unrecognized endemism and cryptic diversity within Obovaria, with significant implications for conservation and management.

from Scientists describe five new freshwater mussel species in southern US rivers · Updated Oct 21

Identifying new species is the foundation of biodiversity conservation. Conservation efforts can only protect what we recognize, and without this work, we risk certain species going extinct before they're even known to science.

from Scientists describe five new freshwater mussel species in southern US rivers · Updated Oct 21