Tennessee's Extinct Species

Tennessee's Extinct Species The following species Birds: once occurred in Carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis Ectopistes migratorius Tennessee and are now Passenger pigeon believed to be extinct. Mammals: Following this list are two Eastern elk species descriptions-one Fishes: describing the Carolina Harelip sucker parakeet and another describing the extinct Mussels: Acornshell Epioblasma haysiana freshwater mussels Angled riffleshell Epioblasma biemarginata of Tennessee. Cumberland leafshell Epioblasma stewardsoni Leafshell Epioblasma flexuosa Narrowcat's paw Epioblasma lenoir Rough rockshell Quadrula tuberosa Round combshell Epioblasma personata Sugarspoon Epioblasma arcaeformis Tennessee riffleshell Epioblasma propinqua Carolina Parakeet Status Habitat The Carolina parakeet is an The Carolina parakeet was found Learn rrwreabout extinct species. in riverine forests, cypress swamps, Tennessee's diverse and other woodlands over much of Description the Eastern and Midwest Regions of ecosyster.n3.Su~ort The Carolina parakeet was a the United States. It was the only conservation in your small parrot, about 12inches in parrot native to the United States. community and state! length. Its head was lemon yellow, The parakeets rested at night in with an orange forehead and cheeks. groups, with as many as 30 birds The rest of its body was green. Its sleeping inside one hollowtree, while legs and beak were pale pinkish- others would hang on the outside. white. These curious birds lived and Nests were placed in hollowtrees, traveled in flocks. and three to five white eggs were laid. Up to 50 nests were often crowded into one tree. Role in the Ecosystem Carolina parakeets enjoyed a variety of different foods-apples, peaches, mulberries, pecans, grapes, dogwood fruit, and grains. The colorful birds also fed on the seeds of grasses, maples, elms, bald cypress, pines, and other trees. They were known to visit orchards and gardens. Historically, many seeds of bald cypress trees were dispersed by Carolina parakeets as they ate the seeds and spread them with their droppings. Why the Carolina Parakeet is Extinct Carolina parakeets were considered agricultural pests. Flocks were known to visit orchards and gardens, where they would eat and scatter fruit and grain crops. Farmers and gardeners would shoot the parakeets, and the flock would hover over the injured birds until they were shot as well. This behavior allowed entire flocks to be quickly destroyed. The curious, easily tamed parakeets were also collected as pets. The showy feathers of the birds were used as decorations for ladies' hats and clothing. Conservation efforts, including a captive-breeding program, were not enough to save this species from extinction. The last known Carolina parakeet died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. Extinct Freshwater Mussels The following freshwater mussel species once lived in Tennessee and are now extinct: Remember, wlwt we put Acornshell Epioblasma haysiana on the land may eventually Angled riffleshell Epioblasma biemarginata enter the streams! Tell a Cumberland leafshell Epioblasma stewardsoni friend about freshwater Leafshell Epioblasma jlexuosa mussels. Reduce water Narrow eat's paw Epioblasma lenoir Rough rockshell Quadrula tuberosa consumption. Protect Round combshell Epioblasma personata waterquaUt~ Prevent Sugarspoon Epioblasma arcaeformis nonpoint source pollution. Tennessee riffleshell Epioblasma propinqua Participate in a local stream or river cleanup. Use biodegradable soaps. Control erosion on your Description Life History property, and report erosion All freshwater mussels have two Fertilized mussel eggs develop into sources. Watch for and shells connected by a "hinge." Their larvae, called glochidia. One female report illegal dumping shells come in a variety of colors, may produce hundreds of thousands alongside streams. Plant or shapes, and sizes. Some shells are of glochidia. These tiny, bean-shaped smooth, some have a clothlike texture, glochidia attach themselves to the maintain native vegetation and some are covered with bumps and gills of fishes and cling there for a along streams. Learn more ridges. Some species rarely reach an time while they develop into adults. about Tennessee's diverse inch in length, while others may grow Once this change is completed, the ecosystems. Support to 6 inches in length and weigh more tiny mussels drop to the stream than 5 pounds. bottom. Adult mussels are filter conservation in your feeders; they consume tiny creatures community and state! Habitat by pumping and filtering water These freshwater mussels once through their gills. Most species can lived in the riffles and shoals of free- live more than 50 years. Using their flowing streams. They generally single "foot," they can move short lived in the gravel, sand, or mud on distances along the streambed. stream bottoms. O',,///, iii' Role in the Ecosystem of dams, gravel dredging, strip Efforts Underway to Protect Our As mussels feed and breathe, they mining, and pollution have all Remaining Freshwater Mussels filter water and make it cleaner. contributed to the extinction of these In Tennessee alone, there are Their presence can be an indicator species. Pollution from coal mining 36 species of freshwater mussels that that the water is clean and healthy. and other sources of nonpoint source are either endangered or threatened. They serve as a food source for pollution kill freshwater mussels. Silt Like the Cumberland monkeyface various fish species and otters, from erosion and poor land-use pearlymussel described earlier in this raccoons, turtles, and muskrats. They practices clogs the mussels' gills and guide, these creatures have unique process minute organic matter in the smothers them. characteristics and specific habitat riverine ecosystem and make it requirements. Many conservation available to other organisms. Because One example of habitat destruction organizations at federal, state, and mussels absorb many water occurred in 1924,when the Wilson local levels now recognize the contaminants, researchers can use Dam was created on the Tennessee importance of this unique group of mussels to learn what's in the water River in northern Alabama. Wilson creatures and are working together to and the sources of the contaminants. Dam flooded most of Mussel Shoals, protect them. Studies exploring the the richest freshwater mussel habitat life history and habitat needs of Why So Many Freshwater Mussel in the world. Nearly 80 species of different species are underway. Species Are Extinct mussels were known to live at this Restoration projects continue to These species of freshwater mussels site. Today, about 40 species survive improve riverine ecosystems. have become extinct primarily in suitable remnant habitat below because of the destruction of their the dam. stream ecosystems. The construction.

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