The salamander mussel is so named because its glochidia (larvae) use the mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) as the obligate host. The mudpuppy is a large, entirely aquatic salamander that lives in rocky streams, rivers and lakes. The salamander mussel has declined historically throughout Illinois. Very few recent records of the mussel are known from the state, where it is believed by most mussel experts to be on the verge of extinction. The mudpuppy is believed to have experienced similar declines, though its status is more unclear. The Illinois Herpetology Technical Advisory Committee (Herp TAC; appointed by the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board) in 2003 considered making a recommendation to list the mudpuppy as a state threatened species, but did not do so because there was too little recent data on the species.

Biologists from USEPA and the Shedd Aquarium are interested in determining the status of the salamander mussel at historic mudpuppy sites in northeast Illinois. On June 30, 2004, a pilot survey was held at Horse Creek in Will and Kankakee counties. This survey included CIFO Biologist/herpetologist (and Herp TAC member) Mike Redmer. The purpose of this survey was to search for mudpuppies or their nests in advance of a second survey (for mussels) to be held in late July. A large (~14 inch) adult mudpuppy was found under the very first rock turned, and seven more (six adults and one juvenile) were found by the end of the day. Similar surveys of other northeast Illinois streams are being planned, with the hope that they will yield more data on mudpuppies and salamander mussels.