Pocketbook - Lampsilis ovata
Federal
Status: Not listed (Watters 1995)
Ohio status: Endangered (Watters 1995)
Key characteristics: A round or oblong shell, inflated, posterior end bluntly pointed in males and truncated in females; prominent, sharply angled posterior ridge; outer surface smooth, yellow or tan, and usually rayless except on the posterior slope (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Similar species: Plain pocketbook, mucket, fat pocketbook, pink mucket (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Description: Similar in shape to the plain pocketbook. Shell relatively large, rounded or oval, thin to moderately thick, and inflated. Anterior end rounded, posterior end bluntly pointed in males, truncated in females. Dorsal margin straight, ventral margin curved. Umbos elevated above the hinge line. Prominent, sharply angled posterior ridge present. Shell smooth, yellow or yellowish brown, darker on the posterior slope, with rays largely absent in adults except for a few thin green lines on the umbos and posterior slope. Length to 6 inches (15.2 cm) (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Pseudocardinal teeth thick, compressed and elevated; two in the left valve, one in the right. Lateral teeth curved and short. Beak cavity large and deep. Nacre white, iridescent posteriorly (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
Hosts: This species had not been separated from Lampsilis cardium by most individuals and some hosts for that particular species might be the host for the Lampsilis ovata (Watters 1995).
Habitat: Large rivers in coarse sand or gravel (Cummings, Mayer 1992).
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