Carolina heelsplitter
| Carolina heelsplitter | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Bivalvia |
| Order: | Unionida |
| Family: | Unionidae |
| Genus: | Lasmigona |
| Species: | L. decorata |
| Binomial name | |
| Lasmigona decorata (I. Lea, 1852) | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Carolina heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata) is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae.
It is named the "Carolina heelsplitter" because in life the sharp edge of the valves protrudes from the substrate and could cut the foot of someone walking on the river or stream bed.
This species is endemic to the United States and is found in only North Carolina and South Carolina.
This species' current status is classified as "critically endangered". The IUCN Red List website states that to be considered critically endangered, the species must face an extremely high risk of becoming extinct in the wild in the immediate future.