Athearnia anthonyi
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Athearnia anthonyi faces severe pressure from habitat degradation due to sedimentation and pollution in its freshwater environments. Dam construction and water diversions have altered natural flow regimes, while agricultural runoff introduces harmful chemicals and excess nutrients that degrade water quality. The species' limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes.
Habitat
This freshwater mussel inhabits clean, flowing streams and rivers with sandy or gravelly substrates in the southeastern United States. It requires well-oxygenated water with stable flow patterns and depends on specific fish hosts for larval development.