Invertebrates

There are currently 32 species of freshwater mussels and ten aquatic snails listed as either Threatened or Endangered in Alabama. Like the fishes, they can best be protected from effects from forestry operations by protecting water quality and streambed habitat. Following the guidelines in Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry closely will help ensure that impacts are minimized.

Counties in which protected mussels are known to occur include Baldwin, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clarke, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dallas, Elmore, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox and Winston (view range maps). This list does not necessarily contain all counties in which these species occur, but does indicate those where they are presently known. Species names followed by an asterisk (*) are listed as Endangered and all others as Threatened .