Classification: State Extirpated
Interior
Exterior
NOTE: Hover over the bold words for definitions or see the Glossary.
The purple lilliput is a small but relatively thick-shelled species, rarely larger than 40 mm in length. There is sexual dimorphism in shell shape with the male shell roughly elliptical and the female shell more round due to an expansion of the posterio-ventral margin to accommodate the marsupium. The periostracum is dark brown or black. The nacre is typically purple. (Parmalee and Bogan 1998)
Shell Anatomy
Historical Distribution by County: French Broad River in Madison County (Ortmann 1921)
This species has been found gravid in May and July (Ortmann 1921). Fish hosts include both green and longear sunfish (Watters 1994).
General Life History For Mussels