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Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaThe Stone Arch Bridge crosses the Mississippi River with the Minneapolis skyline in the distance.
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Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Yellow Sandshell
(Lampsilis teres) Rafinesque, 1820
A Yellow Sandshell mussel
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Other Common Names:
Banana shell, bank climber, slough sandshell, creeper, sand clam, luster shell.
Habitat:
Sand or fine gravel in moving waters of medium to large rivers.
Length:
Up to 6 inches (15.2 cm).
Outer Shell Color:
Yellow with some green rays in younger shells, but absent in older shells.
Inner Shell Color:
Silvery white, sometimes tinge with a cream or salmon color near where the two halves meet. The end farthest from where the two halves meet may be of rainbow colors.
Shell Thickness:
Moderately thick.
Shell Outline:
Longer than it is wide. The end closest to where the two halves meet is round, while the opposite end is pointed in male shells and truncated female shells.
Shell Surface:
The top of the shell is straight, while the bottom of the shell is straight, but may sometimes be pinched in the middle.
Scientific Description:
Elongate, inflated yellow shell. Greenish rays may be visible. Females postbasally more rounded and inflated that male. Female mantle flaps simpler than others of this genus and often with orange stripe on inner surface. Heterogenous marsupium.
Similar Looking Mussels:
Fat Mucket; Black Sandshell; Pondhorn; Scaleshell.
Host Fish:
Nine, mostly common gars and sunfishes.
Distribution:
Minnesota State Listing:
Endangered.
Federal Listing:
Mussels, One being in a person's hand  

Did You Know?
Under the right conditions, certain freshwater mussel species live for as many as 10 to 100 years. This lifespan is one of the longest for any creature on earth.

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Last Updated: September 25, 2006 at 09:35 EST