The Purple Bankclimber is a filter feeder (filters food out of water). This species’ diet primarily consists of plankton and dead organic matter. They inhabit slow to moderate current rivers with a sandy floor, which can have a mud or gravel mixture. This species can be found in the rivers in Florida and Georgia. They are particularly important because they filter the water which keeps the plankton population under control and they also deposit nutrients to the water’s bottom.

The Purple Bankclimber: Federally Threatened

The Purple Bankclimber is a threatened species because of increased human population and development as well as pesticides and chemicals polluting creating a significant threat to mussels since they are filter feeders and may ingest chemicals directly from their habitat.

How You Can Help the Purple Bankclimber

So, here are 3 things you can do to help:

• • You stop using pesticides on your lawn
  • Leave their habitat alone so it is undisturbed and, of course, like always,
  • dispose of trash properly and limit your use of plastic.

It may not seem like a lot but if everyone helps, a little can go a long way.