Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

purple cat's paw (Epioblasma obliquata obliquata)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Unionoida
Family: Unionidae

Listing Status:    and  

Population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the purple cat's paw 

Map of Species occurrence

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Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence
Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)

  • Population location: Entire Range; Except where listed as Experimental Populations
    Listing status:  Endangered
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur:  Alabama , Kentucky , Ohio , Tennessee
    • US Counties in which this population is known to or is believed to occur:  View All
  • Population location: U.S.A. (AL;The free-flowing reach of the Tennessee R. from the base of Wilson Dam downstream to the backwaters of Pickwick Reservoir [about 12 RM (19 km)] and the lower 5 RM [8 km] of all tributaries to this reach in Colbert and Lauderdale Cos., see 17.85(a))
    Listing status:  Experimental Population, Non-Essential
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
07/10/1990 Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region (Region 3) Entire Range; Except where listed as Experimental Populations
06/14/2001 Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region (Region 3) AL; Free-Flowing Reach of the Tennessee River below the Wilson Dam, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, AL

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 6: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/18/2009 74 FR 11600 11602 Notice of initiation of review; request for information on nine listed Midwestern species
08/21/2001 66 FR 43808 43809 ETWP; Establishment of Nonessential Experimental Population Status for 16 Freshwater Mussels and 1 Freshwater Snail (Anthony's Riversnail) in the Free-Flowing Reach of the Tennessee River below the Wilson Dam, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, AL; Correction
06/14/2001 66 FR 32250 32264 ETWP; Establishment of Nonessential Experimental Population Status for 16 Freshwater Mussels and 1 Freshwater Snail (Anthony's Riversnail) in the Free-Flowing Reach of the Tennessee River below the Wilson Dam, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, AL
05/27/1999 64 FR 28779 28791 ETWP; Proposed Establishement of Nonessential Experimental Population Status for Sixteen Freshwater Mussels (Alabama
07/10/1990 55 FR 28209 28213 ETWP; Purple Cat's Paw Pearly mussel Determined to be an Endangered Species; 55 FR 28209 28213
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2)
Date Citation Page Title
06/14/2001 66 FR 32250 32264 ETWP; Establishment of Nonessential Experimental Population Status for 16 Freshwater Mussels and 1 Freshwater Snail (Anthony's Riversnail) in the Free-Flowing Reach of the Tennessee River below the Wilson Dam, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, AL
05/27/1999 64 FR 28779 28791 ETWP; Proposed Establishement of Nonessential Experimental Population Status for Sixteen Freshwater Mussels (Alabama

» Action Plans

Action Plans (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Title
10/01/2009 Purple cat's paw pearlymussel spotlight species action plan

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
03/10/1992 Purple Cat's Paw Pearly Mussel View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
03/18/2009 74 FR 11600 11602 Notice of initiation of review; request for information on nine listed Midwestern species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/24/2010 Purple Cat¿s Paw Pearlymussel 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the purple cat's paw.

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for purple cat's paw

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the purple cat's paw.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: June 19, 2013