Elephant-ear
Elliptio crassidens (Lamarck, 1819) |
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Elephant-ear |
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| Elliptio crassidens, INHS 2655. Ohio River, Pulaski County, Illinois. Length: 4.2 inches (10.7 cm).
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| Other common names Mule's ear, blue ham.
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| Key characters Heavy, solid, and triangular shell with dark brown to
black periostracum and light purple nacre.
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| Similar species Spike, mucket.
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| Description Shell thick, solid, compressed to moderately inflated,
triangular. Anterior end rounded, posterior end pointed. Dorsal margin slightly
curved, ventral margin curved in young shells, becoming straight in older
shells. Umbos low, usually not elevated above the hinge line. Beak sculpture,
if visible, of two or three loops parallel to the growth lines, usually present
only in very small shells. Posterior ridge prominent and sharply angled.
Surface of the shell smooth. Periostracum reddish brown with faint green rays
in small shells, becoming dark brown to black in adults. Length to 6 inches
(15.2 cm). Pseudocardinal teeth well developed; two in the left valve, one in the right. Lateral teeth short, roughened, and straight. Beak cavity very shallow. Nacre color variable, usually purple, occasionally pink or white.
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| Habitat Large rivers in mud, sand, or fine gravel.
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Status Widespread but relatively rare in the Midwest. Locally abundant
in some parts of the Ohio and White rivers of Illinois and Indiana. Endangered
in Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Threatened in Illinois. Species of Special
Concern in Minnesota.
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