5% of the profits support Endangered & Threatened Species.
False spike was once considered common wherever it was found; however, beginning in the early 1970s, the species began to be regarded as rare throughout its range... It was considered to be extinct until 2011, when the discovery of seven live false spike in the Guadalupe River, near Gonzales, Texas, was the first report of living individuals in nearly four decades...
©Juliet Whitsett |Social: @juliet_whitsett_art
COLOR PALETTE SAMPLED FROM IMAGES OF THE FALSE SPIKE:
SPECIES INFO:
False Spike is a rare freshwater mussel native to the Guadalupe River drainage in Texas. It plays a crucial role in maintaining river ecosystem health. As filter feeders, mussels improve water quality by removing particles and pollutants. Their shells provide habitat for aquatic insects and other small organisms, and they serve as a food source for fish, birds, and mammals. Despite their ecological importance, mussels are among the most imperiled animal groups worldwide. Many species, including the False Spike, are experiencing population declines due to habitat loss, pollution, and environmental changes. Protecting these mussels means safeguarding the health of freshwater ecosystems—and ensuring the future of the rivers and streams we all depend on.
Information generously provided by:
IMAGE:
Clinton & Charles Robertson, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
RANGE:
Currently, the false spike occurs in four populations: In the Little River and some tributaries (Brazos River basin), the lower San Saba and Llano Rivers (Colorado River basin), and in the lower Guadalupe River (Guadalupe River Basin) (table 7; figure 6). For more information on these populations, see the SSA report. False spike is presumed to have been extirpated from the remainder of its historical range throughout the Brazos, Colorado, and Guadalupe Basins of central Texas (reviewed in Randklev et al. 2017c, pp. 12-13).."
SUPPORT:
Shop this art HERE or gift to theThreatened Texas Series: Venmo @Juliet-Whitsett (Your patronage donation helps spread the word about Texas' Endangered & Threatened Species).
BIODIVERSITY OF TEXAS SERIES:
With approximately 90 state and federal endangered species and 140 threatened species in Texas, Whitsett’s work underscores the urgency of conservation while emphasizing that protection is still possible.
Through the process of developing species-derived color palettes sampled from crowd-sourced images, Whitsett creates original artworks that draw inspiration from these distinctive palettes, as well as the lives and forms of the rarest and most at-risk. Collaborating closely with scientists and leading experts, she continually seeks to deepen her understanding of these species, contributing to both environmental education and conservation.
Juliet Whitsett is an Austin-based artist and environmental advocate specializing in biodiversity, ecological storytelling, and public engagement. Through research-driven art, she makes scientific knowledge accessible, inspiring awareness and action for the natural world.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Wonder what you can do to help? One easy thing I have found is to write my US house Rep. and ask them to support The Recovering America's Wildlife Act RAWA Find out more at https://www.txwildlifealliance.org/or if you aren't in Texas, https://ournatureusa.com/
Sources:
https://nri.tamu.edu/media/1113/first_account_of_a...
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/08/...
