Alternative Text Description for Shinyrayed Pocketbook (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the geographic range of the Shinyrayed Pocketbook, an endangered freshwater mussel species, within the State of Florida as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map shows three distinct polygonal areas where this species is understood to occur, covering portions of north Florida and the panhandle region. The shaded areas represent the species' habitat boundaries based on federal wildlife service documentation.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers north Florida and the Florida panhandle, extending from the Gulf of America coastline northward to the Georgia-Florida border. Several cities are labeled for geographic reference, including Albany in the north, Dothan in the northwest, Thomasville in the northeast, Tallahassee in the central area, and Panacea near the coast. Lake Talquin is visible in the central portion of the mapped area. The map shows county boundaries as light gray lines, with the southern portion displaying coastal features along the Gulf of America.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Shinyrayed Pocketbook's range is distributed across three separate geographic areas in north Florida, suggesting a fragmented habitat pattern. The western area is the most extensive, covering a large territory west and southwest of Tallahassee. A smaller central area appears north of Tallahassee and Lake Talquin. The eastern area covers substantial territory northeast of Tallahassee extending toward Thomasville. These three separated zones indicate that the species does not occupy a continuous range but rather exists in distinct habitat patches, which is consistent with the species' endangered status.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Shinyrayed Pocketbook Range

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries where the Shinyrayed Pocketbook species occurs within Florida according to United States Fish and Wildlife Service understanding.

Shinyrayed Pocketbook Habitat Areas (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

Pink or light red areas with a fine diagonal crosshatch pattern

Distribution:

Three separate polygonal areas across north Florida and the panhandle region

Notable locations:

The western polygon extends from west of Tallahassee toward the coast and inland, covering the largest continuous area. The central polygon is located north of Lake Talquin. The eastern polygon covers territory northeast of Tallahassee extending toward the Thomasville area.

Spatial patterns:

The three habitat areas are geographically separated from one another, indicating discontinuous distribution. The western area is the most expansive, while the central area is the smallest. All three areas appear to be associated with river drainage systems, though specific waterways are not prominently displayed on this thematic layer.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are present, as this map displays a single species range with one symbology type.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map focuses exclusively on the Shinyrayed Pocketbook species range and does not display other species or habitat types. The polygonal boundaries represent the species' understood range rather than individual observation points, indicating broader habitat zones where the species is expected to occur. As an endangered species, the Shinyrayed Pocketbook has legal protections under federal wildlife regulations. Base map features such as roads and detailed hydrography are minimized to emphasize the thematic species range information.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service polygonal boundaries for species within the State of Florida. The data represents the official understanding of species range by the federal wildlife agency.

Definition Query:

This map displays only records where the common name equals "Shinyrayed Pocketbook" from the larger USFWS species boundary dataset (CR_USFWS_POLY_JUN26COMNAME = 'SHINYRAYED POCKETBOOK').

Scale Information:

The map displays a regional scale appropriate for viewing species range across multiple counties in north Florida. This scale level shows the broad distribution pattern rather than fine-scale habitat details.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087), a projected coordinate system optimized for Florida statewide mapping.

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent the species' understood range based on available data and may not reflect all occupied habitat or recent population changes. The boundaries show where the species is believed to occur but do not indicate population density, habitat quality, or specific locations of individual mussels. As with any species range map, actual occupied habitat may vary within the depicted boundaries.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers north Florida and the panhandle region from the Gulf of America coast northward to the Georgia border, and from approximately the Apalachicola River drainage eastward past Tallahassee to the Georgia state line.

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