National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service: U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
 
 
Support the National Park Service
Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaBald eagle flies through a blue sky.
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Ellipse
(Venustaconcha ellipsiformis) Conrad, 1836
A Ellipse mussel
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Other Common Names:
None.
Habitat:
Can be found in mixtures of sand and gravel or just gravel in small to medium streams.
Length:
Can be up to 3 inches (7.6 cm).
Outer Shell Color:
Yellow to brown and sometimes green. Also has green rays running from where the two halves meet to the opposite end.
Inner Shell Color:
White, may be of rainbow colors towards end farthest from where the two halves meet.
Shell Thickness:
Relatively thick.
Shell Outline:
Much like an ellipse, hence the name, where it is longer than it's wide. The end closest to where the two halves meet is rounded, while the opposite end in bluntly pointed. The end opposite where the two halves meet is straight to slightly curved.
Shell Surface:
The shell is smooth, but have some wrinkles and folds towards the end farthest from where the two halves meet.
Scientific Description:
Elongate-oval yellow or brown shell with green rays.
Similar Looking Mussels:
Rayed Bean, Rainbow, Mucket and Spike.
Host Fish:
Unknown.
Distribution:
Uncommon.
Minnesota State Listing:
Threatened.
Federal Listing:
None.
The wide Mississippi River  

Did You Know?
At Lake Onalaska, near LaCrosse Wisconsin, the Mississippi River is about 4 miles wide. Mississippi River water held behind Lock and Dam #7 and water held by damming the Black River form this broad reach of the Mississippi River.

Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Policy FOIA Notices USA.gov

Last Updated: September 25, 2006 at 10:00 EST