Page 29 - The Freshwater Mussels of Oklahoma

Partial Synonymy:
Amblema costata Rafinesque, 1820, Isely 1925
Quadrula undulata (Barnes, 1823), Isely 1925
Quadrula perplicata (Conrad, 1841), Isely 1925
Amblema perplicata (Conrad, 1841), Isely 1925
Quadrula plicata (Say, 1817), Isely 1925
Amblema peruviana (Lamarck, 1819), Murray and Leonard 1962
Crenodonta peruviana peruviana (Lamarck, 1819), Murray and Leonard 1962
Crenodonta peruviana costata (Rafinesque, 1820), Murray and Leonard 1962
Amblema plicata (Say, 1817), Valentine and Stansbery 1971; Branson 1982;
Oesch 1984; Turgeon and others 1988; Vidrine 1993; Howells and others
1996
Description:
“Shell quadrate; dorsal margin long and nearly straight, ventral margin gently
rounded; anterior end uniformly rounded; posterior end truncated, ending in a squarish
point. Shell thick and solid even in young specimens; size to 18cm; moderately inflated,
becoming compressed posteriorly; posterior ridge prominent; four to six prominent ridges
roughly parallel the posterior ridge; a few to many curved ridges extend from the
posterior ridge to the posterior and dorsal margins. Beaks low, only slightly raised above
the hinge line, inequipartite; beak sculpture, usually seen on only very young shells,
consists of three or four concentric double-looped ridges. Concentric growth-rest periods
form prominent ridges and grooves. Epidermis light brown or yellowish-green becoming
dark brown to black on old shells.
Left valve has two large, triangular, grooved pseudocardinal teeth; the lateral
teeth are long, slightly curved and finely striated. Right valve has a stout, elevated,
triangular, grooved pseudocardinal tooth, having a small lamellar denticle anteriorly; the
lateral tooth is high, slightly curved and striated. Interdentum broad; beak cavity deep;
nacre white, often tinged with pink or purple posteriorly; local infections often stain the
nacre a golden amber color, iridescent posteriorly” (Oesch 1984, p102).
Hosts for Glochidia:
Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Flathead Catfish, Green Sunfish,
Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Sauger, Shortnse Gar, White
Bass, Yellow Perch (Watters, 1994).
Comments:
A highly variable species that varies in outline, size, inflation, sculpture and
external color. Because of this, it has accumulated many synonyms over the years. It is
widespread in the state and in many mussel beds is the predominant species.

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