Arcidens confragosus (Say, 1829)
Rock-pocketbook
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Arcidens confragosus, INHS 9459. Mississippi River, Louisa County, Iowa.
Length: 2.8 inches (7.1 cm).
Other common names Rockshell, grandmaw, bastard, black pocketbook, queen.
Key characters Large, relatively thin shell, heavily sculptured, with poorly developed lateral teeth.
Similar species Threeridge, washboard.
Description Shell thin to moderately thick, elliptical, and inflated.
Anterior end rounded, posterior end squared or bluntly pointed. Ventral margin
straight or slightly rounded. Umbos full, elevated above the hinge line and
located near the middle of the shell. Beak sculpture of large pronounced knobs
or double-looped ridges that continue to the edge of the shell in two rows,
developing into folds on the surface. Periostracum dark green, brown, or black.
Length to 7 inches (17.8 cm).
Pseudocardinal teeth compressed, elongate; two in the left valve, one in the right. Poorly developed lateral teeth, often present only as a finely serrated thickening of the hinge line. Beak cavity moderately deep. Nacre white, iridescent on the posterior third.
Habitat Medium to large rivers in pools and areas of reduced flow in mud and sand.
Status Extirpated from Ohio. Threatened in Wisconsin. Rare in Missouri. Uncommon to rare in the other states of the Midwest.
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Created 6/9/95 Last Modified 12/15/97 cam