ENDANGERED ANIMAL INFO

PALLID STURGEON

The Pallid Sturgeon, also known as the Scaphirhynchus albus, is one of the many animals in the Mississippi River that is endangered.  They nest in the gravel deposits on the bank of the river.  Damming and channelling have greatly reduced these breeding grounds.

LEAST TERN

The Least Tern is a threatened migrating bird.  The subspecies that lives on the Mississippi is the S. a. antillarum.  These graceful birds nest without cover on sandbars.  This is why we need to pick up litter.  The trash along the coast prevents them from nesting.

FAT POCKETBOOK MUSSEL

The scientific name for the Fat Pocketbook is Potamilus capax. They have decreased related to navigation and flood control, causing sandbars to become less common.  This is important because live and nest on sandbars.