America’s Amazon Poster – 2023 Update

Alabama Water Watch is pleased to announce a 2023 update to the America’s Amazon poster, celebrating Alabama’s unmatched aquatic biodiversity!

The America’s Amazon poster and infographic was originally launched in 2016 from a collaboration between former AWW Program Director, Eric Reutebuch and a friend of AWW, Jennie Powers. Since then, additional aquatic species have been documented in Alabama.

3/3/2023 UPDATE: Printed posters (18″ x 24″) are now available to educators (formal and informal) in Alabama AND the general public. Fill out this form to be put on the waiting list. You will receive a follow-up by email with additional information and payment options. We will process the waiting list weekly with follow-up emails.

Approved educators are eligible for one complimentary poster. All other posters are $15/each. A flat $10 shipping fee will apply to all posters that are mailed up to 3 posters total. Please note these particular donations are not tax-deductible.

Download a free digital version of the poster

Special thanks to Legacy for sponsoring our initial printing!

The poster features many of the native aquatic species of Alabama. Alabama has the highest biodiversity of any state in five categories of aquatic critters: freshwater crayfish (97 species), freshwater fish (312 species), freshwater snails (202 species), freshwater turtles (31 species), and freshwater mussel species (186 species). Alabama has the highest overall aquatic biodiversity of any state and is the 4th most biodiverse state when terrestrial species are included.

There are 99 federally endangered aquatic species, which makes up a whopping 70% of federal listings in the state. According to the 2015 Alabama State Wildlife Action Plan‘s Greatest Conservation Need (GCN) List, 44 freshwater crayfish, 103 freshwater mussels, 63 freshwater fishes, 52 freshwater snails, 6 freshwater turtles, and 5 marine turtles are considered at-risk species.

The 2023 update also features some of the marine species of the Alabama coast, namely marine turtles and marine fish species with 5 and 200 species, respectively. Did you know that Alabama boasts 5 of the 6 marine turtles documented in continental U.S. waters?!

AWW has created a companion America’s Amazon Reading List for those interested in learning even more about Alabama’s biodiversity. We will keep adding titles, so check back often!

Thank you to our contributors from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The Auburn University Museum of Natural History, the Geological Survey of Alabama, and NOAA Fisheries.