The Purple Bankclimber (Elliptoideus sloatianus) is a freshwater mussel reaching a length of up to 5.5 inches.
It gets its name since the inside of its shell is white towards the middle and fades to purple at the edge of the shell.
This mussel filters food (mostly dead organic debris) out of the water.
Their habitat is located in the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee Rivers in Florida. They need a specific water flow. However, that has been decreased due to overdevelopment, flood controls, and hydropower.
Pesticide and chemical pollution threatens all filter feeders.
Photo credit U.S. Fish and Wildlife
