Summary ²

Lampsilis ovata is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.

Distribution ³

Global Range: (20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)) The range given by Johnson (1970) includes the Interior Basin: the Mississippi and Ohio drainages, St. Lawrence drainage from Lake Superior to the Ottawa River and Lake Champlain, Hudson Bay drainage; Atlantic slope: Potomac River system in Maryland. This extensive range includes various forms, subspecies and possibly valid species, such as Lampsilis ventricosa (= Lampsilis cardium) and Lampsilis satura; as the taxonomy of this species complex is convuluted (Parmalee and Bogan, 1998).

Habitat ⁴

Habitat Type: Freshwater

Comments: This species is very genalized in habitat preference, adapting well to both impoundment situations as well as free-flowing, shallow rivers. It may be found in big rivers (reservoirs) at depths of 15 to 20 feet and in small streams in less than two feet of water. Although usually found in moderate to strong current, it can survive in standing water. The most suitable substrate consists of a mixture of gravel and coarse sand mixed with some silt or mud (Parmalee and Bogan, 1998).

Iucn red list assessment ⁵

• Needs updating

Assessor/s

Nature serve conservation status ⁶

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: The range given by Johnson (1970) includes the Interior Basin: the Mississippi and Ohio drainages, St. Lawrence drainage from Lake Superior to the Ottawa River and Lake Champlain, Hudson Bay drainage; Atlantic slope: Potomac River system in Maryland. This extensive range includes various forms, subspecies and possibly valid species as the taxonomy of this species complex is convuluted, but regardless, most forms are considered common and stable throughout the range except some portins of Illinois and Ohio.

Intrinsic Vulnerability: Not intrinsically vulnerable

Environmental Specificity: Broad. Generalist or community with all key requirements common.

Comments: This species is very genalized in habitat preference, adapting well to both impoundment situations as well as free-flowing, shallow rivers. It may be found in big rivers (reservoirs) at depths of 15 to 20 feet and in small streams in less than two feet of water. Although usually found in moderate to strong current, it can survive in standing water. The most suitable substrate consists of a mixture of gravel and coarse sand mixed with some silt or mud (Parmalee and Bogan, 1998).

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Femorale, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.femorale.com/shellphotos/detail.asp?species=Lampsilis%20ovata%20(Say,%201817)
2. Adapted by rkkessler from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampsilis_ovata
3. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28882386
4. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28882392
5. (c) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/34529658
6. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28882380

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SeaLifeBase
• World Register of Marine Species

Range Map

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