Federal Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Spike - Elliptio dilatata
Federal Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Ohio Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Key characteristics: Thick, elongate shell, short lateral teeth, greenish brown or black, usually with a purple nacre (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Similar species: Black sandshell, spectaclecase, elephant-ear, kidneyshell (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Description: Shell solid, elongate, elliptical, and compressed to moderately inflated. Anterior end rounded, posterior end rounded to slightly pointed. Dorsal margin straight to slightly curved, ventral margin straight to curved in young shells, becoming arched in older shells. Umbos low, usually not elevated above the hinge line. Beak sculpture, if visible, of three or four heavy loops. Surface smooth, greenish brown with faint green rays visible on small shells, becoming dark brown to black in adults. Length to 5 inches (12.7 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 variable, most often purple, occasionally pink or white (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Hosts: Black and white crappie, rockbass, rainbow darter, bandded sculpin, flathead catfish, gizzard shad, sauger, yellow perch (Watters 1995).
Habitat: Small to large streams and occasionally lakes in mud or gravel (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
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