RALEIGH, N.C. — Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have confirmed the discovery of a new freshwater mussel species living in state streams — a find that underscores both the diversity and fragility of North Carolina’s river ecosystems.
Discovery of the Solstice Creekmussel
The newly identified species, named the Ligodonta obscura, or Solstice Creekmussel, was first collected in 2016 but officially recognized this year following detailed morphological and genetic testing.
Scientists noticed subtle differences between this mussel and other known species, including the green floater.
“We noticed that some of the shell characteristics, particularly the internal teeth, did not align with those of the green floater,” said Brena Jones, the NCWRC’s Landscape Conservation Coordinator. “We were able to use genetic analysis to confirm that this mussel was indeed a unique species in its own taxonomic group.”…