Pimpleback
Quadrula pustulosa
DIAGNOSTICS 7
SHELL
- size: mid-sized
- thickness: thick
- shape: round to oval, squared off in anterior with low wing
- width: moderately inflated
- surface: periostracum , satiny; variable number of nodules on posterior half, usually lacking on the first years of growth and getting more numerous as the animal grows older. Some individuals are virtually nodule-less.
- beaks: strongly curled; very faint or absent sculpturing, except for small nodules along the posterior ridge
- color/markings: short, wide green ray near posterior of early shell near beak, fading quickly: accessory, thinner green rays common on posterior slope; periostracum golden yellow to brown
- sexual dymorphism: none
- pseudocardinal teeth: strong, thick, slanted to anterior; very wide interdentum bridging deep beak cavity
- lateral teeth: strong and short
- nacre: white
Soft parts: white
Similar species/lookalikes: Most similar to Cyclonaias tuberculata, but fresh shells easily distinguished by respective nacre color. C. turberculata always has purple nacre at least on palial lip (nacre can turn whitish in cavity in some adults), and always has multiple nodules and complex sculpturing on early shell formation. Nodulous shell and broad green ray(s) near smooth beak are diagnostic.
DISTRIBUTION/WATERSHEDS 8
ONTARIO
- Sydenham R.
- Thames R.
- Grand R.
- Ruscom R.
- Trent R.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Philippe Blais
- (c) Dan Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan Johnson
- (c) naturalistfishing, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by naturalistfishing
- (c) mjr316, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
- (c) Matthew Ireland, all rights reserved, uploaded by Matthew Ireland
- (c) J. Burke Korol, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by J. Burke Korol
- Adapted by Philippe Blais from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrula_pustulosa
- (c) Philippe Blais, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
