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Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaKids looking though binoculars to see the wonders of the big Mississippi
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Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Strange Floater
(Strophitus undulatus) Say, 1817
A Strange Floater mussel
K.S. Cummings, Illinois Natural History Survey
Other Common Names:
Squawfoot; Sloughfoot; Creeper.
Habitat:
Small to medium-sized streams and occasionally large rivers in mud, sand, or gravel.
Length:
Up to 4 inches (10.2 cm).
Outer Shell Color:
Green, dark brown, or black, sometimes with green rays.
Inner Shell Color:
Salmon pink, orange or cream colored, with bluish white edges.
Shell Thickness:
Thin in young mussels. Slightly thick in older mussels.
Shell Outline:
Slightly longer than wide. The beak forms an obvious swelling that curves over the point where the two shell halves join. The end of the shell farthest from the beak comes to a slightly rounded point. The end of the shell nearest the beak is rounded. The longest shell edge opposite the beak may be straight or curve in slightly.
Shell Surface:
Smooth and shiny.
Scientific Description:
Brown shell, sometimes with green rays. Elongate-suboval. Inflated, beaks prominent. Sculpture includes several well defined concentric ridges.
Similar Looking Mussels:
Host Fish:
Fathead Minnow, Green Sunfish, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead, Longnose Dace
Distribution:
Widespread and common.
Minnesota State Listing:
None.
Federal Listing:
None.
Itasca, Headwaters of the Mississippi River  

Did You Know?
At Lake Itasca, the river is so shallow, children can walk across the Mississippi. Between Governor Nicholls Wharf and Algiers Point in New Orleans, the Mississippi is more than 200 feet deep.

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Last Updated: September 20, 2006 at 14:42 EST