Alternative Text Description for Southern Elktoe (Proposed Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the proposed endangered species range for the Southern Elktoe, a freshwater mussel species, across the southeastern United States. The map displays polygonal boundaries representing areas where this species is understood to occur according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The boundaries are depicted across portions of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida, with particular emphasis on riverine systems and coastal areas.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers a large portion of the southeastern United States, extending from northern Georgia and South Carolina southward through the entire state of Florida. Major cities visible on the map include Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Wilmington, and Jacksonville in the northern portion. In Florida, cities include Jacksonville, Gainesville, Valdosta, Palm Coast, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Palm Bay, Cape Coral, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Coral Springs, Freeport, and Abaco. The map shows portions of the Atlantic Ocean along the eastern coast and the Gulf of America along Florida's western coast. State boundaries and coastal features are visible throughout the mapped area.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Southern Elktoe's proposed range follows a distinctive linear pattern that traces major river systems from northern Georgia through coastal South Carolina and into northeastern Florida. The species range shows a strong concentration along coastal waterways in South Carolina, including the area around Charleston and Savannah. The distribution extends southward along Florida's Atlantic coast and includes portions of central Florida. The pattern reveals that this species is primarily associated with riverine and coastal drainage systems rather than being widely distributed across the landscape. The narrow, elongated shape of the range boundaries suggests habitat specificity related to particular watershed systems.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Southern Elktoe (Proposed Endangered) Range

This layer represents the geographic boundaries where the Southern Elktoe mussel species occurs or is expected to occur.

Range Boundaries

Appearance:

Light pink or pale rose-colored shaded polygons with subtle diagonal line pattern fill.

Distribution:

The range boundaries appear in three main geographic clusters: a northern concentration extending from northern Georgia through South Carolina's coastal region, a central band running along the Georgia-South Carolina border area near Savannah, and a southern extension along Florida's northeastern Atlantic coast and portions of central Florida.

Notable locations:

Significant range areas appear near Charleston, South Carolina, extending inland along river systems. Another notable concentration occurs in the Savannah, Georgia area. In Florida, the range follows the Atlantic coastal region south of Jacksonville and includes scattered areas in the central portion of the state near Orlando and the Tampa Bay region.

Spatial patterns:

The range exhibits a linear, corridor-like pattern that closely follows river drainages and coastal watersheds. The boundaries form narrow bands rather than broad circular distributions, indicating the species' dependence on specific aquatic habitats. Multiple disconnected polygons suggest the species occupies discrete watershed systems rather than continuous habitat.

Overlapping Patterns

The species range intersects multiple state boundaries and coastal zones, indicating that conservation efforts would require coordination across jurisdictional lines and consideration of both riverine and coastal management.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents proposed endangered species range boundaries as understood by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service specifically for the State of Florida's jurisdiction. The Southern Elktoe is a freshwater mussel species that inhabits river and stream systems. The polygonal boundaries shown represent the species' known or expected range rather than precise locations of individual populations. This type of range map is used for regulatory and conservation planning purposes. The map shows range data that extends beyond Florida's borders to provide regional context for the species' distribution.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents species range boundaries as understood by the agency. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries for species relevant to the State of Florida. Data source layer name: CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the full dataset, showing only records where the common name equals 'SOUTHERN ELKTOE'. This query isolates the range boundaries for this single species from a larger multi-species dataset.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale appropriate for viewing multi-state species ranges. This scale level shows the broad distribution pattern of the species across the southeastern United States rather than fine-scale habitat details.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The data source layer name indicates the data is current as of July 2025.

Limitations:

Range boundaries represent general areas where the species is known or expected to occur and should not be interpreted as precise habitat maps. Actual species presence may be limited to specific water bodies within the shown boundaries. The boundaries reflect the understanding of species distribution at the time of data compilation and may not capture all occupied habitat or recent changes in distribution.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from northern Georgia and the Carolinas southward through the entire Florida peninsula, including Atlantic coastal areas and portions of the Gulf of America coast. The map includes portions of neighboring states to provide regional context for the species' range in Florida.

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