Endangered species found in Sangamon River 120 years after last sighting

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Over a century after it was last seen, an endangered species has been found alive in Central Illinois.

The Salamander Mussel was last spotted in Central Illinois 120 years ago. But, on Oct. 2, Conservation biologist Mark Davis and Sarah Douglass, a researcher who studies mollusks at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), found both the salamander mussel and its host, the mudpuppy, in the Sangamon River.

Back in June, they tested samples using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. This collects DNA from environmental samples like soil or water, instead of directly from an organism. One of the eight sites they tested came back positive for both the salamander mussel and the mudpuppy.

“Instead of investing weeks or years searching all possible habitats throughout the state, eDNA allows us to focus like a laser on those places where we have genetic traces,” Davis said. “This method allowed us to strategically deploy Sarah’s expertise at the perfect site.”

The salamander mussel is less than two inches long, and they normally live under rocks in rivers, making them difficult to finding using normal survey approaches.

But, the eDNA techniques proved fruitful on Oct. 2 after Douglass searched for the mussels in the site where their DNA was found.

“I was ecstatic and doing a happy dance in my head after finding the fresh dead shell. I just knew we’d find live ones, and we did shortly after,” Douglass said. “I also felt a sense of relief to be able to say with certainty that, yes, this species is still alive in Illinois.”

They found several live salamander mussels and several dead shells. Two specimens were sent to the INHS Mollusk Collection .

Davis and Douglass say they hope that by finding the salamander mussel and the mudpuppy, it will lead to both species being better protected.

“The salamander mussel is a candidate for endangered listing under the federal Endangered Species Act,” Davis said. “This provides critical data and information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for not only their decision making but designating critical habitat, including in Illinois.”

And, they hope it will lead to new studies on the salamander mussel, which will help future conservation efforts.

“This find is incredible and it will allow us to help answer a variety of conservation-related questions for these species,” Douglass said. “Statewide sampling efforts using a combination of eDNA and conventional sampling will give us a clearer picture of species’ status and distributions.”

Mudpuppies are aquatic salamanders and are important to the salamander mussel’s life cycle. The larvae attach to the outside of the salamanders before they mature into adult mussels. Mudpuppies are threatened in Illinois, and salamander mussels are up for consideration for federal endangered status.

The last time the salamander mussel was seen the early 1900s by Frank Baker, an early naturalist. According to INHS, the species is extremely rare. The INHS collection has only 26 records from Illinois. In other institutions throughout the world, there are about 30 other specimens from Illinois.

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