Alternative Text Description for Suwannee Moccasinshell (Threatened) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the geographic distribution of the Suwannee Moccasinshell (Threatened), a federally threatened freshwater mussel species in north-central Florida. The map displays polygonal boundaries representing the known or designated habitat areas for this species as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The thematic layer uses a pink crosshatch pattern to identify areas where this threatened species occurs.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The mapped area covers portions of north-central Florida, with visible reference cities including Valdosta to the north and Gainesville to the southeast. The distribution pattern suggests the species' habitat follows a major river system running through the region. The map extends across multiple counties in northern Florida, with state and county boundary lines visible as context. The habitat area forms a large, interconnected network of polygons that appear to follow watercourses through the landscape.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Suwannee Moccasinshell habitat shows a concentrated distribution pattern following what appears to be a major river corridor and its tributaries in north-central Florida. The species' range forms a large, continuous area in the western and central portions of the mapped region, with an additional separated habitat area visible in the southeastern section near Gainesville. The distribution pattern indicates the species is confined to specific aquatic habitats within the broader landscape, with clear geographic boundaries to its occurrence. The separation between the main habitat area and the southeastern portion suggests distinct watershed boundaries or habitat discontinuities.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Suwannee Moccasinshell (Threatened) Distribution

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries of habitat areas for the Suwannee Moccasinshell, a threatened freshwater mussel species.

Suwannee Moccasinshell Habitat Areas (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

The habitat areas are displayed as polygon features filled with a pink crosshatch or diagonal line pattern against a light gray base map background.

Distribution:

The habitat areas are distributed across north-central Florida, forming a large primary concentration in the western and central portions of the map, with a smaller separate area near Gainesville in the southeast.

Notable locations:

The largest continuous habitat area extends from near Valdosta southward through the central portion of the mapped region. A secondary habitat cluster appears east of the main distribution, closer to Gainesville. The northern extent of the habitat reaches into the area near Valdosta, while the southern portions extend well into peninsular Florida.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat boundaries follow linear and branching patterns characteristic of river systems and their floodplains. The distribution forms an interconnected network in the main area, with clear corridors suggesting the species follows waterway connections. The habitat is not uniformly distributed across the landscape but is concentrated within specific geographic corridors that likely correspond to suitable aquatic environments.

Overlapping Patterns

The habitat polygons appear to follow major watercourses, creating a dendritic or tree-like pattern across the landscape. Where multiple tributary systems converge, the habitat areas form broader zones of occurrence.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents the official habitat boundaries for the Suwannee Moccasinshell as understood by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the State of Florida. The species is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The map shows only the Suwannee Moccasinshell layer filtered from the larger USFWS species dataset. Base map features including roads, county boundaries, and city labels are shown for geographic reference but are not the primary focus of this thematic map. The habitat boundaries represent areas where the species is known to occur or has suitable habitat conditions.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) dataset containing species distribution information for the State of Florida. The dataset consists of polygonal boundaries representing species habitat areas as understood by the federal wildlife agency.

Definition Query:

This map displays only records where the common name equals "SUWANNEE MOCCASINSHELL" (COMNAME = 'SUWANNEE MOCCASINSHELL'), filtering the broader USFWS species dataset to show only this single threatened species.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional view covering multiple counties in north-central Florida, suitable for understanding the overall distribution pattern of the species. This scale is appropriate for strategic conservation planning and understanding the species' geographic range.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The boundaries represent habitat areas as understood by USFWS and may not capture every individual occurrence location or fine-scale habitat details. The polygonal representation provides a generalized view of the species' distribution rather than precise point locations. Areas outside the mapped polygons do not necessarily indicate absence, but rather areas not designated as known habitat by USFWS.

Map Coverage:

The map covers north-central Florida, extending from approximately the Georgia-Florida border area near Valdosta southward into peninsular Florida, and from the western portion of the state eastward to include the Gainesville area.

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