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Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaThe historic Sibley House sits amid trees not far from the Mississippi River.
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Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Plain Pocketbook
(Lampsilis cardium) Rafinesque, 1820
A male and female Plain Pocketbook mussels
K.S. Cummings, Illinois Natural History Survey
Other Common Names:
Pocketbook; Grandmaw.
Habitat:
Small creeks to large rivers in stable sand substrate.
Length:
Up to 7 inches (17.8 cm).
Outer Shell Color:
Can be yellow, tan, brown, green or pink. The colors often form circular bands, especially in young mussels. Green rays are common(lines that radiate from the point where the two shell halves join to the shell edges).
Inner Shell Color:
Can be white, bluish white, pink or salmon, with iridescent coloring on one end.
Shell Thickness:
Moderately thin (young mussels) to moderately thick (older mussels).
Shell Outline:
The entire shell outline is somewhat egg-shaped, with the edge directly beneath the beak looking pinched-in (like the top of a heart). The beak(the swelling above the point where the two shell halves join) may extend somewhat into the outline. The end of the shell farthest from the beak is somewhat rounded in males, but looks slightly cut off in females. In both males and females, this end is the widest point of the shell.
Shell Surface:
The outer shell surface feels smooth. The entire surface looks somewhat bulged out or swollen (especially females). The beak forms an obvious swelling on the shell surface and curves slightly over the point where the two shell halves join.
Scientific Description:
Shell is yellow, brown, green or pink; colors often form concentric bands, especially in juveniles; green rays common. Suboval, inflated shell with prominent beaks. Female more postbasally inflated and rounded. Postbasal mantle margin broad, pigmented and papillose. Female has mantle flap.
Similar Looking Mussels:
Higgin's Eye, Fat Mucket, Fat Pocketbook.
Host Fish:
Largemouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Sauger
Distribution:
Widespread and common throughout its range.
Minnesota State Listing:
None.
Federal Listing:
None.
A barge going underneath a bridge.  

Did You Know?
Sixty percent of all grain exported from the United States is transported and shipped from the Mississippi River.

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Last Updated: May 05, 2008 at 09:41 EST