Elephant-Ear - Elliptio crassidens
Federal Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Ohio Status: Endangered (Watters 1995)
Key characteristics: Heavy, solid, and triangular shell with dark brown to black periostracum and light purple nacre (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Similar species: Spike, mucket (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
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) (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
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 (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Hosts: Skipjack herring (Watters 1995).
Habitat: Large rivers in mud, sand, or fine gravel (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
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