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Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaA bridge spans the Mississippi River between wooded shores.
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Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Fluted-Shell
(Lasmigona costata) Rafinesque, 1820
A Fluted-Shell mussel
K.S. Cummings, Illinois Natural History Survey
Other Common Names:
Sand mussel, squawfoot.
Habitat:
Lives in sand, mud, or fine gravel in medium to large rivers where the flow of water are slow to moderate.
Length:
Up to 7 inches (17.8 cm).
Outer Shell Color:
Green to yellowish brown in younger individuals and becomes chestnut or dark brown as the shell matures.
Inner Shell Color:
White, bluish white, and often salmon-colored.
Shell Thickness:
Moderately thick.
Shell Outline:
Longer than wide and slightly inflated. Both the two ends of the mussel are sharply curved. The top and bottom are also both straight to slightly curved.
Shell Surface:
Shell is smooth on end closest to where the two halves meet and contains noticeable ridges on the opposite end.
Scientific Description:
Yellow, green, or brown shell often with green rays. Shell elongate,subrectangular and compressed. Ridges or "flutes" on posterior scope.
Similar Looking Mussels:
Host Fish:
Carp.
Distribution:
Widespread but relatively uncommon.
Minnesota State Listing:
Special Concern
Federal Listing:
None.
A flooded street in 1952  

Did You Know?
In 1952, the Mississippi River flooded hundreds of acres of farmland and multiple cities. Over 2,000 families were homeless because of the high water.
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Last Updated: September 20, 2006 at 12:42 EST