There are many types of mollusks in North Carolina. Most people notice the shells when they go to the beach. These shells are identified and a description of the animal that lives within is given.
Tom Osborne and Nelson Bullock have teamed up to grow pearls in pen shells using nuclei. They have had success with this method so far and expect to open a hatchery for the animals as well so as not to deplete the natural supply.
This report presents a survey of the freshwater (unionid) molluscan fauna of the piedmont portion of the Cape Fear River System in North Carolina. The abundance and diversity of mollusk species were compared across the Neuse, Tar, and Cape Fear drainages. Photographic plates and diagnostic comments are provided to facilitate identification of unionids.