Kingdom Animalia Order Unionoida Genus Obovaria Higher classification Obovaria | Phylum Mollusca Family Unionidae Scientific name Obovaria retusa Rank Species | |
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Similar Orange‑footed pimpleback mussel, Rough pigtoe pearly mu, Cracking pearlymussel, White warty‑back pearly mu, Club naiad | ||
Obovaria retusa is a rare species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. Its common names include golf stick pearly mussel and ring pink. It is native to parts of the eastern and southeastern United States, but it remains in very little of its original range. There may be no viable populations left. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
This mussel was native to Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia. By 1991 it was thought that there were about five populations remaining in Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. It is now thought to be extirpated from West Virginia, as the population there was a misidentification. Only a few specimens of the species have been observed recently. If any viable populations remain, they will be located in the Green River of Kentucky.