French Creek contains 26 different species of mussels, more than any other stream in the State of Pennsylvania. In fact, French Creek's mussel diversity is higher than most other streams in the Northeast, and higher than many streams throughout the world. Despite this vast diversity, mussels are also one of the most endangered groups of animals in North America.
Studies show significant declines in freshwater mussel populations across the continent.
Over half of the species found in the Midwest are threatened or endangered. Body,Description, Food Intake, and Habitat Mussels are descended from their salt water relatives, oysters and clams. They are from the family Mollusca, which also includes squid, snails and marine clams. They consist of a soft body with a digestive tract, gills, and a muscular foot, all housed within two hard shells which are joined at the back and are strengthened by hinge teeth. During this process, food and oxygen are filtered from the water.