New York Metropolitan Region and New Jersey
Freshwater Mussel Identification Handbook

Family Corbiculidae
Genus Corbicula
 

    
Status: Our only representative of the family Corbiculidae is the invasive 
species Corbicula fluminea (Muller, 1774), the asiatic clam. Although widely 
distributed in the US, C. fluminea is limited in the NY metro area to several lakes 
on Long Island, NY, and to Twin Lakes, CT, and in NJ is present in all major  
waterways outside the Pine Barrens.



    
Species Summary

    
Corbicula fluminea (Muller, 1774) asiatic clam
Features:
  size: 50mm, though typically smaller
  beak: situated centrally, and highly placed above the hinge line
  color patterns: distinguished by three brown or purple radial color bands near the umbos;
  periostracum brown or blackish brown; nacre colored white and purple
  shape: inflated, triangular, or rounded triangular in older specimens
  shell features: posterior external hinge ligament, with many coarse concentric ribs
  on epidermis
  teeth: long, finely serrated laterals, two in the right valve and one in the left;
  pseudocardinals short, strong, with blunt surfaces, three per valve

Status:
  abundance: uncommon
  status: US, NY, NJ, CT: not legally protected

Distribution:
  N.A. distribution: nearly all major eastern and midwestern river systems; Connecticut  
  west to Minnesota and Iowa, south to Georgia, Oklahoma and Louisiana
  present metro distribution: confined to several lakes on Long Island, NY
  regional distribution: NY: all major watersheds except the upper Delaware River
  watershed; NJ: all major watersheds outside the Pine Barrens; CT: Connecticut, 
  Housatonic, Thames River and South central coast watersheds; East Twin Lakes 
  (Housatonic River watershed)  Map

Life History:
  habitat: large rivers, canals and lakes on any hard substrate; some tolerance to salinity;
  limited tolerance to low calcium and acidity  Habitat Photo
  hosts: no host required; free-swimming veliger larvae

    
 Key Features Refresher
Anterior and Posterior
   Beak and Beak Sculpture   Color Ray
 Hinge Teeth   Length, Width, Height, Profile, Silhouette
Growth Line  Posterior Ridge and Slope
Shell Shape

Plates
C. fluminea

    

     
 

    
left view 

    
 right view

     
 

    
 

    
 


    
 ventral view

    
 profile view


     
 

     
 

    


    
 

    
 nacre with bluish cast

    
long, fine laterals; 2 right, 1 left
pseudocardinals short,  3 per valve 


     
 

     
 

    
 

    
no image 

    
many concentric ribs 

     
 


    
View other genera
Alasmidonta  Anodonta  Corbicula   Dreissena
   Elliptio  Lampsilis  Lasmigona  Leptodea   Ligumia   
Margaritifera   Pyganodon  Strophitus  Utterbackia