Alternative Text Description for Gulf Moccasinshell (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the geographic range of the Gulf Moccasinshell, an endangered species, across the southeastern United States. The map shows polygonal boundaries representing the habitat distribution of this species as identified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map covers portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, providing context for understanding where this endangered species occurs within the region.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map extends from the northern portions of Georgia and South Carolina southward through the entire state of Florida. Major cities labeled on the map include Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, and Wilmington in the Carolinas; Athens, Augusta, Macon, Warner Robins, Savannah, and Albany in Georgia; and Jacksonville, Gainesville, Valdosta, Palm Coast, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Palm Bay, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Freeport, and Abaco in Florida and surrounding areas. The Atlantic Ocean appears along the eastern edge of the map, while the Gulf of America (western body of water) borders the western and southern edges of Florida.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Gulf Moccasinshell's endangered species habitat is extremely limited in geographic extent. The species occurs in a very small, concentrated area in the southeastern United States, specifically along the coastal region of Georgia and northern Florida. The mapped range shows minimal distribution, appearing as a narrow linear corridor that follows what appears to be a river system or waterway. This highly restricted range emphasizes the species' vulnerability and endangered status, as the population is confined to a very specific geographic area rather than being widely distributed across the region.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Gulf Moccasinshell (Endangered) Habitat Range

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries defining where the Gulf Moccasinshell species occurs according to United States Fish and Wildlife Service data.

Gulf Moccasinshell Habitat Area (light pink with diagonal line pattern)

Appearance:

The habitat is depicted using a light pink color fill with a diagonal hatched line pattern overlay.

Distribution:

The species range appears along the coastal zone between Georgia and northern Florida, concentrated in the area between Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida.

Notable locations:

The habitat corridor is positioned along what appears to be a riverine system flowing from the interior toward the Atlantic coast, passing through the region between Savannah and Jacksonville.

Spatial patterns:

The distribution follows a narrow, linear pattern characteristic of freshwater mussel species that inhabit specific river systems. The range does not extend broadly across the landscape but remains confined to a relatively narrow corridor, suggesting dependence on particular aquatic habitat conditions.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer extracted from a larger species distribution dataset maintained for Florida. The Gulf Moccasinshell is designated as endangered, indicating it faces a high risk of extinction. The narrow geographic range visible on this map illustrates the limited distribution that contributes to the species' endangered status. As a freshwater mussel species, the Gulf Moccasinshell is dependent on specific aquatic habitat conditions within river systems. The map focuses exclusively on the species range boundary and does not display other environmental or habitat features that may influence species distribution.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data is sourced from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents polygonal boundaries for species as understood by the agency for the State of Florida. The source layer is CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

This map displays only records where the common name equals 'GULF MOCCASINSHELL', filtering the dataset to show the specific distribution of this single endangered species rather than all species contained in the source dataset.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale appropriate for showing the full extent of the species range across multiple states. This scale is suitable for understanding the overall geographic distribution but may not show fine-scale habitat details within the range boundary.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The dataset reflects species boundary information current as of July 2025 based on the source layer naming convention.

Limitations:

The map shows the species range boundary as a polygon but does not indicate population density, habitat quality, or specific locations where individuals have been observed within the boundary. The actual occupied habitat within the mapped range boundary may be more limited than the full polygon area suggests. Areas outside Florida may have less comprehensive coverage depending on data collection methods across state boundaries.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from northern Georgia and South Carolina through the full extent of Florida and portions of the adjacent Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of America. The map includes contextual geographic area well beyond the actual species range to provide regional orientation, though the species itself occurs only in a small portion of the total mapped area.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.