Another Alabama freshwater mussel added to endangered species list

The Snuffbox mussel

Washington, DC
Another freshwater mussel native to Alabama -- the Snuffbox -- was added this week to the endangered species list.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Snuffbox lives in 14 states but has disappeared from 62 percent of the streams in which it historically was found.
Populations of freshwater mussels are vulnerable to changes in their environment, including the damming of rivers and degradation of stream and river habitat due to impoundments, channelization, chemical contaminants, mining and sedimentation.
The listing means the service will now develop recovery plans for the mussel and coordinate efforts to conserve their habitats.