 New York Metropolitan Region and New Jersey
Freshwater Mussel Identification Handbook
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Family Unionidae
Genus Lampsilis
 Status: Seven Lampsilis species are recorded from New York State, of which
two are known from the metro area: Lampsilis cariosa, and L. radiata.
Both have wide distributions along the Atlantic slope where they remain generally
common to abundant. In the metro area however both species are much less
common, and L. cariosa is listed as a species of Special Concern in Connecticut. Lampsilis
abrupta, which also occurs in New York State, is Federally listed as Endangered.
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Species Summaries
Lampsilis cariosa (Say, 1817) yellow lampmussel
Features:
size: 100mm, rarely to 120mm
beak: weakly double-looped, moderately swollen but not much elevated
color patterns: thin green color rays absent or confined to posterior shell only
nacre bluish-white
shape: sub-ovate with evenly rounded margin; sexually dimorphic shape
shell features: clear, glossy, yellow periostracum
teeth: two pseudocardinals in left valve and one in right; pseudocardinals and
laterals well-developed but variable in shape
Status:
abundance: rare
status: US, NY: not legally protected; NJ: threatened; CT: special concern (extirpated)
IUCN: endangered
Distribution:
N.A. distribution: Nova Scotia (Canada) to Georgia
present metro distribution: NY: Hudson River watershed, scattered other
areas; NJ: Ramapo River (lower Hudson River watershed), upper Delaware River watershed;
CT: not present in metro area Map
other regional localities: NY: upper Hudson River watershed, Susquehanna River
watershed; NJ: no information; CT: may occur in Connecticut River watershed
historical localities: NY: Lake Ontario watershed, upper Delaware River watershed;
NJ: Passaic and Raritan Rivers (lower Hudson River watershed); CT: lower Connecticut
River watershed; Housatonic River watershed
Life History:
habitat: small to large rivers with moderate to fast flow, especially in riffles. Preferred
substrate sand and gravel, or shifting sands downstream from large boulders. Species
of Lampsilis favor rivers, but may be found as well in streams and lakes where they
tolerate a wide range of conditions. In the metro area they are most likely to be found
in the Hudson and Delaware River watersheds, and some species are often among the
most abundant taxa in their community Habitat Photo
hosts: Morone americana (Gmelin, 1789) white perch; Perca flavescens (Mitchill, 1814)
yellow perch
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Plates
L. cariosa
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left view
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right view
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dorsal view
shell shape bulbous
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profile view;
shape subovate; periostracum glossy
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nacre bright white
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pseudocardinals and laterals present
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lateral teeth fine, distinct
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pseudocardinal teeth prominent
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Lampsilis radiata (Gmelin, 1791)
eastern lampmussel
Features:
size: 100mm
beak: doubled looped sculpture with umbos extending above the hinge line
color pattern: numerous dark green color rays across the shell face; periostracum
yellowish to brownish green; nacre tinged with pink or salmon
shape: sub-ovate elliptical with evenly-rounded margin, sexes exhibit slight
dimorphism
shell features: slightly roughened, wrinkled, greenish-yellow periostracum
teeth: long, well-developed but not heavy; two pseudocardinals in right and left valves
Status:
abundance: common
status: U.S., NY, NJ, CT: not legally protected
Distribution:
N.A. distribution: Nova Scotia (Canada) south to South Carolina along the Atlantic
drainage; Lake Ontario westward through Lake Huron and the Lake Superior basins
present metro distribution: NY: Delaware River watershed; NJ: Passaic and
Ramapo River watersheds, Budd Lake (lower Delaware River watershed), Wallkill River
(upper Hudson River watershed); CT: not in metro area Map
other regional localities: NY: Oswego River watershed, Richelieu River watershed
(= Lake Champlain watershed), St. Lawrence River watershed, upper Hudson River
watershed, upper Susquehanna River watershed; NJ: no information; CT: Connecticut,
Housatonic, Thames River and South central coast watersheds
historical localities: NY: Lake Ontario watershed; NJ: Newton Lake/creek
(lower Delaware River watershed), Morris Canal and upper Saddle River (lower Hudson
River watershed)
Life History:
habitat: most creeks, rivers and lakes; found in all types of flows and a wide variety of
substrates but favors coarse sand and gravel Habitat Photo
hosts: Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque, 1817) rock bass; Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus,
1758) pumpkinseed; Lepomis cyanellus (Rafinesque, 1819) bluegill; Lepomis megalotis
(Rafinesque, 1820) longear sunfish; Micropterus dolomica (Lacepede, 1802) smallmouth bass;
Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802) largemouth bass; Morone americana (Gmelin, 1789)
white perch; Natropis ludibundus (Girard, 1856) sand shiner; Perca flavescens (Mitchill, 1814)
yellow perch; Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque, 1820) bluntnose minnow; Poxomis
nigromaculatus (Lesueur, 1829) black crappie
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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
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Plates
L. radiata
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left view
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right view
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dorsal view
shell not bulbous
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profile view
shape sub-ovate; strong color rays
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nacre white or pink
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hinge teeth present
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beak with double-looped sculpture;
periostracum roughened
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pseudocardinals and laterals
well-developed but variable
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