Butterfly - Ellipsaria lineolata
Federal Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Ohio Status: Endangered (Watters 1995)
Key characteristics: Triangular, flattened shell, sharply angled posterior ridge, yellowish brown, with broken brown rays (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Similar species: Deertoe (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Description: Shell somewhat triangular, thick, solid, and compressed. Anterior end broadly rounded, posterior end pointed. Umbos compressed, directed forward, and not elevated above the hinge line. Posterior ridge sharply defined. Lateral surfaces broadly flattened, less so in older females. Beak sculpture, if visible, of a few fine, double-looped ridges. Shell smooth, yellow or yellowish green, with scattered brown rays that are usually broken into V-shaped or irregular rectangular blotches. Old shells with faint brown rays or rayless. Length to 4 inches (10.2 cm) (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Pseudocardinal teeth relatively large, slightly elevated, serrated, and divergent; two in the left valve, one in the right. Usually two lateral teeth in each valve, serrated, short, and straight. Interdentum wide. Beak cavity shallow to moderately deep. Nacre white, iridescent posteriorly (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Hosts: Freshwater drum, green sunfish, sauger (Watters 1995).
Habitat: Large rivers in sand or gravel (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
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