Megalonaias nervosa is not federally protected, but KY may have a state
conservation designation for it.  Cummings and Mayer (1992- Mussels of
the Midwest) list M. nervosa as endangered in Ohio (though I'm not sure
if thats an official Ohio designation or their own).  Elsewhere in North
America, M. nervosa seems to be doing fairly well....or at least its
doing a heck of a lot better than many other fw mussel species.  Glad to
hear KY is doing something about poaching though I suspect they are more
worried about federally listed taxa than state listed ones.  Its been my
experience that most states (especially those down here in Dixie)
couldn't care less about enforcing state-level protections.

Mike

Michael Gangloff, Ph.D.
Invertebrate Collections Manager
Auburn University Museum and Natural History Learning Center
101 Cary Hall
Auburn University, Alabama 36849
Voice:(334)844-7345
Cell:(334)332-1533
Fax:(334)844-4065

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