Orangefoot Pimpleback. Monkeyface. Fuzzy Pigtoe.
No, these aren’t insults hurled by children on the playground; they’re freshwater mussel species. Despite their playful monikers, these rock-like animals seriously improve water quality in rivers and streams.
A new exhibit in the Tennessee Aquarium’s Ridges to Rivers gallery showcases these often-underappreciated organisms and draws attention to their role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems.
“We live in the most biodiverse area for freshwater mussels in the world here in the Tennessee River Valley,” says Senior Aquarist Avery Millard, who is responsible for the care of exhibits in Ridges to Rivers.
Aerial view of the Duck River.
Flowing just west of Marion County, the Duck River is one of North America’s most life-rich waterways. This 284-mile river — the longest contained entirely within the Volunteer State is also especially abundant in mussel species. A trio of Duck River mussels are featured in the new exhibit: Purple Wartyback, Threehorn Wartyback, and Painted Creekshell.
