Freshwater Mussels

Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered groups of animals in the world — over 80 species are protected under the Endangered Species Act and >20 species have recently gone extinct. As such, many freshwater mussel species are extremely rare and are often unavailable for research and education purposes. This library of 3D models is designed to improve access to the Smithsonian’s world-class freshwater mussel collection.