Paper Pondshell- Anodonta imbecillis
Federal Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Ohio Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Key characteristics: Relatively small thin shell, flattened beaks, double-looped beak sculpture, without teeth (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Similar species: Cylindrical papershell, giant floater, squawfoot (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Description: Shell elongate, oblong, compressed in young, becoming inflated in older shells. Shell extremely thin, transparent in young individuals. Anterior end rounded, posterior end somewhat pointed. Ventral margin straight to moderately rounded. Umbos well forward, flattened, not rising above the hinge line. Beak sculpture double-looped, with five or six fine, wavy ridges. Shell smooth, shiny, light yellow in young and on the umbo of adults, rest of shell brownish green, occasionally with fine green rays. Length to 4 inches (10.2 cm) (Cummings, Mayer 1992). Both valves without teeth, hinge line straight and thin. Beak cavities shallow or absent. Nacre white or bluish white and iridescent posteriorly (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Hosts: Banded killifish, bluegill, dollar and green sunfish, pumpkinseed, warmouth, creek chub, largemouth and rock bass, yellow perch, western mosquitofish (Watters 1995).
Habitat: Ponds, lakes, and sluggish mud-bottomed pools of creeks and rivers (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
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