- Range:
Blue = current range
Hollow circles = former range
A map showing counties with designated critical habitat for this species may be found
the the Kansas Wildlife Refuge
- Status in Kansas:
Endangered
- North American Status:
(From NatureServe)
This is a declining
regional endemic that is undergoing range contraction and continues to decline through
most of its range. It has been extirpated from nearly 70% of its historic range. Through
most of its current range (although fairly large), it is rare, shows no signs of
recruitment, and faces major threats. It is endemic to the Neosho and Verdigris basins of
the Arkansas River system in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Distribution of
relic shell material indicates that the species was once widespread throughout these
basins. It was historically reported from the Illinois River in Oklahoma and Arkansas; the
Neosho River in Oklahoma and Kansas; Neosho River tributaries, including the Elk River in
Missouri, Cottonwood River in Kansas, and the Spring River in Oklahoma, Kansas, and
Missouri, and Spring River tributaries, North Fork Spring River and Indian Creek in
Missouri, and Shoal and Center Creeks in Kansas and Missouri; the Verdigris River in
Oklahoma and Kansas, and its tributaries, Caney River in Oklahoma and Kansas, and Fall
River in Kansas. Recent status surveys conducted throughout this area indicate that the
species has been extirpated from much of its range. In the Neosho River basin the species
now survives in the Neosho River (KS), Elk River (MO), Spring River (MO, KS, possibly OK),
North Fork Spring River (MO), Illinois River (OK, AR), and Shoal, Indian and Center creeks
(MO). In the Verdigris basin the species survives in the Verdigris River (KS) and Fall
River.
- Comments:
The younger shells of the Neosho mucket are bright yellow and often marked with
greenish rays and chevrons. As the mussel ages, it turns dark brown but often retains the
green rays. The adults become moderately large and are sexually dimorphic in shape. This
mussel could be confused with the plain pocketbook or the mucket. However, the Neosho
mucket has lower umbos than the plain pocketbook and it does not occur in the same river
basin as the mucket. Insufficient numbers of bass in the lower Neosho, Fall and Verdigris
rivers may be a factor in the decline of the Neosho mucket. Unfortunately, most of the
individuals there appear to be well-worn and old. However, the Neosho mucket is one of the
predominant mussels in a short stretch of the Spring River. Juvenile Neosho muckets
produced by artificial propagation in a fish hatchery have been successfully introduced
into the Fall and Verdigris rivers, presenting some hope of replenishing the species
throughout its range.
- Fish Hosts:
largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass
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