The male and female Tubercled-Blossom Pearlymussel are different in shape, but they both  are yellowish brown with green rays.  They live in the bottom of streams and rivers in the sand and gravel.  They require free-flowing, clean water.  They live in a variety of environments ranging from large rivers to shallow streams.
    They eat microscopic organisms including algae, diatoms, and phytoplankton which they filter out of the water.
    Adult mussels seldom move more than a few meters in their lifetime.  In good water condition, mussels can live from 15 to 50 years.

Reason for their decline in population:

    Mussels are extremely susceptible to changes in water quality.  Creating dams, levies, and dredging channels has destroyed their habitats.  These changes can increase siltation which may smother the mussels, choke out their food source, or harm their host fish.

Protection:

   In order for the Tubercled-Blossom Pearlymussel to survive,   State and Federal regulation must be enforced.  Some of the habitats need to be restored.  Research is needed to determine the necessary habitat and the fish host.