Eastern elliptio

Species of bivalve

The eastern elliptio (Elliptio complanata) is a freshwater mussel in the Unionidae family, native to Canada and the United States. It is a bivalve member of the phylum Mollusca. Not only is it found in Canada and the United States, but it is frequently the most abundant species of mussel found in its home waterways. It is the most common mussel in the Delaware River ^[4] and the most common mussel found in the state of New Hampshire and Vermont.^[5][6] It can be found in the substrate at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers. Size is variable, but can reach up to 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length.^[7][8]

Reproduction

The eastern elliptio reproduces sexually via spawning from third week of April to second week of June.^[9]

Life cycle

Like most Unionidae, Elliptio complanata begins as an egg within the gills of the female elliptio, matures into a glochidium, attaches itself to a host fish species and then becomes a juvenile mussel. Elliptio complanata is known to attach to several fish species including American eel Anguilla rostrata, brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, lake trout Salvelinus namaycush, mottled sculpin Cottus bairdii, and slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus. It has the most success maturing on the American eel.^[10]

References

1. Cummings, K.; Cordeiro, J. (2011). "Elliptio complanata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T188880A8656796. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T188880A8656796.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. "Elliptio complanata (Lightfoot, 1786)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
3. "Elliptio complanata (Lightfoot) 1786". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
4. Lake, Mailing Address: 274 River Road Beach; Us, PA 18405 Phone: [phone] Contact. "Mollusks - Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
5. "Elliptio complanata | Vermont Atlas of Life". val.vtecostudies.org. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
6. Department, NH Fish and Game. "Eastern elliptio | Nongame | New Hampshire Fish and Game Department". www.wildlife.state.nh.us. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
7. "Elliptio complanata (Eastern elliptio) - Michigan Natural Features Inventory". mnfi.anr.msu.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
8. "Elliptio complanata : Eastern Elliptio | Rare Species Guide | Minnesota DNR". www.dnr.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
9. "Elliptio complanata (Eastern elliptio) - Michigan Natural Features Inventory". mnfi.anr.msu.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
10. Lellis, William A.; St. John White, Barbara; Cole, Jeffrey C.; Johnson, Connie S.; Devers, Julie L.; van Snik-Gray, Ellen; Galbraith, Heather S. (2013). "Newly documented host fishes for the eastern elliptio mussel (Elliptio complanata)". Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. 4 (1): 7585. doi:10.3996/102012-JFWM-094.

External links

Media related to Elliptio complanata at Wikimedia Commons