Elktoe

The elktoe (Alasmidonta marginata) is a freshwater mussel in the Unionidae family, found primarily in southeastern Canada and the eastern United States. It faces threats from pollution, including acid mine drainage and sedimentation, which have led to its potential extinction in Oklahoma. The species has a thin, triangular shell with ridges, measuring about 4 inches, and is yellowish-green with dark spots. Its interior is glossy bluish-white. Resembling snuffbox and deertoe mussels, the elktoe differs by having a beak with double-looped ridges and teeth.

Elktoes inhabit small to large water bodies, preferring sand or gravel substrates. They are found from Northeastern Canada to Arkansas, with significant populations in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Once present in Alabama, it is now likely extinct there. These mussels can live up to a century, burrowing into sediment but occasionally moving using their foot.

As filter feeders, elktoes consume bacteria and algae by drawing water through siphons. They breed during warm months, with females carrying larvae (glochidia) for up to 11 months before release. Larvae must attach to host fish like the White sucker, Rock bass, or Warmouth, parasitizing them until they become juveniles.

Conservation challenges include habitat loss, pollution, and competition from invasive species like Zebra mussels, which suffocate native mussels by attaching in large numbers. Protecting habitats and host fish is crucial for preserving the elktoe.