Classification: State Threatened
Interior
Exterior
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Say described this species in 1817. The shell is inflated with umbos extending well above the hinge line. A tightly curved ventral margin makes the length to height ratio roughly equal. The periostracum may be yellow to golden brown with rays, turning dark brown or black with age. There is one chunky pseudocardinal tooth in the right valve, two in the left valve. The lateral teeth are vestigial. Nacre color is bluish-white with an occasional salmon or pink wash.
Shell Anatomy
The triangle floater may be found gravid throughout the year (Ortmann 1919); however, in North Carolina it is only found gravid during the cooler months of the year. At this time, no fish hosts have been identified for this species.
General Life History For Mussels