USACE_Ohio_Mussel_Guide(Lake_Erie).pdf

USACE Ohio Mussel Guide

Eastern pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta)

Description: The outer surface of the eastern pondmussel shell is dark olive green to brownish, often with faint dark green straight and narrow rays, especially in juveniles. The shell also has irregular growth lines; sometimes a few ribs are present below the posterior ridge. The inner surface of the shell is bluish white, sometimes with salmon in the beak area and is iridescent posteriorly. The shell can reach a maximum length of 102 mm (4.1 inches) Source: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/cwcs/pdf/EasternPondmussel.pdf

Fawnsfoot (Truncilla donaciformis)

Description: Shell small, elongate, somewhat oblong, relatively thin, and compressed to moderately inflated. Anterior end rounded, posterior end pointed, ventral margin smoothly rounded. Umbos full, centrally located, and slightly elevated above the hinge line. Beak sculpture of five or six double-looped bars. Periostracum variable from yellow to greenish brown, with numerous dark green rays made up of many smaller broken, V-shaped or zigzag lines. Length to 2 inches (5.1 cm).

Source: http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/animals_plants/mollusk/musselmanual/page116_7.html

Status: Endangered Species (Ohio)

Key characters: The long shell, with its distinctive posterior end, makes this species easy to recognize (Strayer and Jirka 1997).

Similar species: Black sandshell, Eastern elliptio

Status: Threatened species (Ohio)

Key characters: Small, elongate shell, greenish yellow, with zigzag markings.

Similar species: Deertoe, rayed bean.

Three-horned wartyback (Obliquaria reflexa)

Description: Shell usually small, rounded, moderately thick, and inflated. Anterior end rounded, posterior end bluntly pointed. A row of three or four large, elevated knobs extending from the beak to the center of the ventral margin, with the knobs alternating in position with those of the other side. Often a broad depression present between the knobs. Beaks elevated and curved inward. Periostracum highly variable in color from light yellowish brown to green and dark brown. Shell usually covered with numerous fine, dark green, broken rays. Length to 3 inches (7.6 cm).

Soruce: http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/animals_plants/mollusk/musselmanual/page100_1.html

Deertoe (Truncilla truncate)

Description: Shell triangular, thin to moderately thick, and somewhat inflated. Anterior end rounded, posterior end bluntly pointed or truncated. Posterior ridge sharply angled. Umbos full and elevated well above the hinge line. Beak sculpture of three to five fine, double-looped ridges. Periostracum highly variable in color from yellow, green, yellowish brown to dark brown, with numerous green rays of variable widths and shape, often composed of fine broken lines or V-shaped or zigzag markings;

occasionally rayless. Length to 2 inches (5.1 cm).

Source: http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/animals_plants/mollusk/musselmanual/page114_5.html

Status: Threatened species (Ohio)

Key characters: The large knobs that alternate from side to side will distinguish this mussel from all other species found in the Midwest.

Similar Species: Pimpleback, sheepnose, tubercled blossom.

Status: Species of Concern (Ohio)

Key characters Triangular shell, sharply angled posterior ridge, inflated, yellow, green, or brown, usually with numerous green rays.

Similar species Fawnsfoot, butterfly, Wabash pigtoe, elktoe.

Threeridge (Amblema plicata)

Description: Shell thick, elongate or rounded, and compressed to inflated. Anterior end rounded, posterior end rounded or bluntly pointed. Dorsal margin straight, ventral margin straight to curved.

Umbos low, equal to or slightly elevated above the hinge line. Beak sculpture of three or four ridges usually seen only in young shells. Shell smooth on the anterior third, with three or more roughly parallel ridges or folds on the posterior two-thirds. Shells from large rivers generally more inflated and without as many folds or wrinkles as those found in smaller streams. Periostracum yellowish green, light brown, or green in juveniles, becoming dark green, brown, or black in older shells. Length to 7 inches (17.8 cm).

Soruce: http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/animals_plants/mollusk/musselmanual/page40_1.html

Common floater (Pyganodon grandis)

Description: Shell extremely variable but usually large, somewhat elliptical or elongate, and inflated.

Shell extremely thin in young mussels, somewhat thicker in older individuals. Anterior end broadly rounded, posterior end bluntly pointed. Ventral margin straight or slightly curved. Umbos full, usually located in the anterior third of the shell but occasionally more toward the center in the large-river form (P.

grandis var. corpulenta), elevated above the hinge line. Beak sculpture of three to five double-looped ridges. Shell smooth, light yellow or yellowish green with rays visible in younger specimens, becoming dark green to brown in older shells. Length to 10 inches (25.4 cm). Valves without teeth, hinge line slightly thickened and curved. Beak cavity broad and shallow. Nacre variable and may be silvery white, cream, pink, salmon, or copper-colored.

Status: N/A

Key characters: Elongate or rounded shell with ridges or folds on the posterior half. No sculpturing on the anterior end, especially near the umbo.

Similar species: Washboard, rock-pocketbook.

Status: N/A

Other common names: Floater, stout floater, papershell, hogshell, slopbucket

Key characters: Large, thin, elongate shell, beaks elevated above hinge, double-looped beak sculpture, without teeth.

Similar species: Flat floater, paper pondshell, creeper, cylindrical papershell.

Status: N/A

Other common names: Floater, stout floater, papershell, hogshell, slopbucket

Key characters: Large, thin, elongate shell, beaks elevated above hinge, double-looped beak sculpture, without teeth.

Similar species: Flat floater, paper pondshell, creeper, cylindrical papershell.

Mapleleaf (Quadrula quadrula)

Description: Shell quadrate to rounded, thick, and somewhat inflated. Anterior end rounded, posterior end squared or truncated. Dorsal margin straight, ventral margin curved in the anterior half, straight or arched posteriorly. Umbos small and only slightly elevated above the hinge line. Beak sculpture of two rows of raised bumps or nodules that continue downward on the surface of the shell, separated by a furrow or sulcus. Rows of ridges or pustules on either side of sulcus and on posterior slope, rest of surface usually smooth. Periostracum variable, from yellowish green to light brown with faint rays in small shells, becoming greenish brown, chestnut, or dark brown in larger individuals. Length to 4 inches (10.2 cm).

Fragile papershell (Leptodea fragilis)

Description: Shell somewhat oblong, thin, and compressed. Anterior end rounded, posterior end rounded in males and broadly expanded in females. Dorsal wing present in young shells, becoming greatly reduced or absent in older individuals. Umbos flattened and only slightly elevated above the hinge line.

Beak sculpture of three or four faint, double-looped bars. Shell smooth, shiny to dull, yellow or yellowish green, usually with numerous light green, indistinct rays; some rayless. Length to 6 inches (15. cm).

Status: N/A

Other common names: Stranger.

Key characters: Fairly thick shell with well-developed teeth. Squared in outline, lateral surface with two rows of pustules separated by a sulcus.

Similar species: Winged mapleleaf, pimpleback, purple pimpleback, monkeyface, wartyback.

Status: N/A

Other common names: Papershell, cottonmouth.

Key characters: Thin, fragile, elongate shell, yellow or yellowish green with faint green rays, rounded posterior end, pinkish white and iridescent nacre.

Similar species: Scaleshell, pink papershell.