Plain Pocketbook - Lampsilis cardium
Federal
Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Ohio Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Key charactersistics: Moderately thin, inflated, round to somewhat squarish shell with the posterior end bluntly pointed in males and truncated in females; smooth outer surface, yellow or tan with or without green rays (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Similar species: Fat pocketbook, pocketbook, mucket, pink mucket, Higgins eye (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Description: Shell large, round or somewhat quadrate, thin to moderately thick (particularly in older individuals), and inflated. Anterior end rounded, posterior end bluntly pointed (males) to truncated (females). Dorsal and ventral margins straight to curved. Umbos turned forward and elevated above the hinge line. Beak sculpture of four or five elevated ridges. Periostracum smooth, yellow or yellowish green, usually with numerous dark green rays of various widths. Length to 7 inches (17.8 cm) (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Pseudocardinal teeth relatively large, elevated, and roughened in young individuals, smoother in old specimens; two in the left valve, one in the right. Lateral teeth straight to curved, moderate in length, and striated. Beak cavity deep. Nacre white or bluish white, occasionally pink or salmon, iridescent posteriorly (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Hosts: Black, largemouth, and smallmouth bass, bluegill, sauger, walleye, white crappie, yellow perch (Watters 1995).
Habitat: Small creeks to large rivers in mud, sand, or gravel (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
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