Classification: State Extirpated
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The shell of the pimpleback is relatively thick and round to squarish in shape. Most shells have tubercles along the posterior 2/3 of the shell; although, some individuals may lack this feature entirely or display only a few tubercles. The periostracum ranges from yellow or golden brown but darkens to brown or black with age. A green ray may extend from the umbo to the ventral margin. The nacre is white with iridescence in the posterior half. There are two pseudocardinal teeth in the left valve and one in the right. The lateral teeth follow the same pattern. (Parmalee and Bogan 1998).
Shell Anatomy
This species is "tachytictic", being gravid from about mid-June to mid-August" (Parmalee and Bogan 1998). Fuller (1974) identified fish hosts including the shovelnose sturgeon, black bullhead, brown bullhead, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and white crappie.
General Life History For Mussels