Ft. Snelling, Minn. Their names the sheepnose, rayed bean, and spectaclecase describe their appearance, but not their precarious hold on existence. These three mussels found in waters of the Midwest are among 26 species named by the U.S. Fish and Wildlif

Biologists say the three mussels are believed to be declining
significantly throughout their range. All three are fairly high
priorities for listing, according to the USFWS. Declines of the
mussels are primarily due to habitat loss and degradation,
officials say.

Freshwater mussels play important roles in their ecosystems. As
they filter water for food, they remove impurities. Mussels also
are good food sources for animals such as raccoons, herons, otters,
and egrets. More information on candidate species can be found at
the USFWS’ Midwest web site at:
http://midwest/fws.gov/endangered.