Alabama Mollusks
Freshwater
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Unless otherwise noted, the shells illustrated here were
found in the Alabama portion of the Tennessee River system (North Alabama).
They are listed alphabetically by scientific name and, when known, the
common name and size of the specimen are provided.
Please note: Due to limitations in my photographic ability as well as differences
in computer technologies, some illustrations may not
display an exact representation of the shell's true color. These pictures are
covered by copyright and may not be used without written permission.
Questions concerning species identification and other comments may be sent
to Deborah Wills (dwills@hiwaay.net).
Use the following links
to advance to a specific section of the list:
A, B, C,
D,
E, F, G,
H, I,
J, K,
L, M,
N, O, P,
Q, R, S,
T, U, V,
W, X,
Y, Z
- Amblema plicata
(Say, 1817)
- Threeridge (59.5 mm H x 73 mm L); Interior view of
hinge and teeth
- Another example (85 mm H x 111 mm L)
- Anodonta -- See also: Pyganodon
- Anodonta suborbiculata
Say, 1831
- Flat Floater (94 mm H x 123 mm L);
Interior view (open)
- Corbicula fluminea
(Muller, 1774)
- Asian Clam, Asiatic Clam (36 mm H x 34 mm L); 129
(30 mm H x 27.5 mm L); Interior view (open) of
hinge and teeth; Another
example (48 mm H x 53 mm L)
- Cyclonaias tuberculata
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Purple Wartyback, Purple Pimpleback
(82 mm H x 86 mm L)
- Another example (71 mm H x 81 mm L);
Interior view (open) of
hinge and teeth
- Another example (83 mm H x 105 mm L);
Interior view (open)
- Cyprogenia stegaria
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Fanshell (39 mm H x 34 mm W) Single valve
- This fossil represents a species that is listed as endangered, but is
generally thought to be extinct in the area where it was found.
- Dromus dromas
(I. Lea, 1834)
- Dromedary Pearlymussel (29 mm H x 27 mm W) Single valve
- This fossil represents a species that is listed as endangered, but is
generally thought to be extinct in the area where it was found.
- Ellipsaria lineolata
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Butterfly (Left, 61 mm H x 74 mm L); (Right, 81 mm H
x 104 mm L); Interior view of hinge and teeth;
Other examples (Female, 37.5 mm H x 49 mm L x
17.5 mm W); (32.5 mm H x 46.5 mm L x 16 mm W)
- Elliptio crassidens
(Lamarck, 1819)
- Elephant-Ear, Mule-Ear (50 mm H x 77 mm L);
Interior view (open) of
hinge and teeth;
Another example (97 mm H x 145 mm L);
Another example (87 mm H x 125 mm L)
- Elliptio dilatata
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Spike, Lady-Finger (47 mm H x 109 mm L);
Interior view (open)
- Elliptio icterina
(Conrad, 1834)
- Variable Spike (30.5 mm H x 65 mm L);
Interior view (open)of
hinge and teeth; Hunter Creek, Conecuh County, AL
- Epioblasma torulosa
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Tubercled blossom (48 mm H x 53 mm W) Single valve
- This fossil represents a species that is listed as endangered, but is
generally thought to be extinct in the area where it was found.
- Fusconaia barnesiana
(I. Lea, 1838)
- Tennessee Pigtoe (63 mm H x 92 mm L); Interior view
of hinge and teeth; Estill Fork, Jackson
County, AL
- Fusconaia ebena
(I. Lea, 1831)
- Ebonyshell (61 mm H x 68.5 mm L);
Another example (62.5 mm H x 78 mm L)
- Fusconaia flava
(Rafinesque, 1820) (form undata)
- Wabash Pigtoe (83 mm H x 87 mm L)
- Fusconaia sp.
- (36 mm H x 48.5 mm L); Estill Fork, Jackson County, AL
- Glebula rotundata
(Lamarck, 1819)
- Round Pearlshell (Female on left, 54 mm H x 74 mm L x
45 W); (Male, 48 mm H x 64 mm L x 33 W); Interior view of
hinge and teeth; South Alabama
- Lampsilis abrupta
(Say, 1831)
- Pink Mucket; The pink mucket has been listed by the Federal
government as endangered.
- Lampsilis altilis
(Conrad, 1834)
- Fine-lined Pocketbook (54 mm H x 86 mm L);
Single valve; Chewacla Creek, Macon County,AL (1992)
- This species is currently listed as threatened.
- Lampsilis ovata
(Say, 1817)
- Pocketbook (102 mm H x 84 mm L);
Another example (74 mm H x 105 mm W)
- Lampsilis teres
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Yellow Sandshell, Banana Shell; ( Male, 60 mm H x
134 mm L); Interior view of hinge and teeth;
Female (52 mm H x 125 mm L); Interior view of
hinge and teeth;
Juvenile (15 mm H x 36 mm L)
- Lasmigona complanata
(Barnes, 1823)
- White Heelsplitter, Angel Wings (96 mm H x 142 mm L)
- Another example (66.5 mm H x 70 mm L)
(Measured from the wing top to the ventral margin)
- Leptodea fragilis
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Fragile Papershell (32 mm H x 59 mm L)
- Another example (66 mm H x 110 mm L)
- Lexingtonia dolabelloides
(I. Lea, 1840)
- Slabside Pearlymussel (43 mm H x 60 mm W);
Interior view of hinge and teeth;
- Paint Rock River system (May 1995)
- Ligumia recta
(Lamarck, 1819)
- Black Sandshell (69 mm H x 170 mm L)
- Margaritifera marrianae
R.I. Johnson, 1983
- Alabama Pearlshell (Male, 43 mm H x 87 mm L);
Female (open) (41.5 mm H x 81 mm L); Interior
view of hinge and teeth; Hunter Creek, Conecuh
County, AL
- This species is a candidate for the list of Federally endangered
species.
- Medionidus conradicus
(I. Lea, 1834)
- Cumberland Moccasinshell (18.5 mm H x 43 mm L)
(Single valve); Interior view (19.5 mm H x 43 mm L) (Single valve); Estill
Fork, Jackson County, AL
- Megalonaias nervosa
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Washboard, Rubboard (96 mm H x 142 mm L);
Interior view (open) (86 mm H x 116 mm L) of
hinge and teeth
- Another example (95 mm H x 140 mm L);
Another example (90 mm H x 137 mm L);
Another example (82 mm H x 123 mm L)
- Obliquaria reflexa
Rafinesque, 1820
- Threehorn Wartyback, Three Horn (45 mm H x 49.5 mm L);
Interior view of hinge and teeth; Tennessee
River, Decatur, AL
- Another example (53.5 mm H x 60 mm L);
(Also called Pink Three Horn because of the pink nacre); South Alabama
- Obovaria retusa
(Lamarck, 1819)
- Ring Pink, Golf stick; This fossil represents a
species that is listed as endangered. Occasionally a more recent single
valve can be found along the Tennessee River.
- Plectomerus dombeyanus
(Valenciennes, 1827)
- Bankclimber (60.5 mm H x 107.5 mm L); Tombigbee River
below Demopolis, AL
- Plethobasus cyphyus
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Sheepnose, Bullhead (62 mm H x 71 mm W) Single valve
- Pleurobema cordatum
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Ohio Pigtoe (59 mm H x 53.5 mm L) Single valve;
Another example (96 mm H x 110 mm L)
- Pleurobema perovatum
(Conrad, 1834)
- Ovate Clubshell (33 mm H x 51 mm L); Chewacla
Creek, Macon County, AL (October 1992); This species is currently listed
as endangered.
- Pleurobema pyramidatum
(I. Lea, 1840)
- Pyramid Pigtoe (57 mm H x 84 mm L)
- Polymesoda caroliniana
(Bosc, 1801)
- Carolina Marshclam (32 mm H x 32 mm L); South Alabama
- Potamilus alatus
(Say, 1817)
- Pink Heelsplitter, Heelsplitter (73 mm H x 133 mm L)
(106 mm H from top of wing to ventral margin);
Interior view (open)
- Another example (45 mm H x 88 mm L)
(72 mm H from top of wing to ventral margin); Interior view of
hinge and teeth
- Another example (94 mm H x 145 mm L)
(116 mm H from top of wing to ventral margin); Interior view of
hinge and teeth
- Potamilus ohiensis
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Pink Papershell, Papershell (60 mm H x 92 mm L);
Interior view of hinge and teeth
- Another example (39 mm H x 77 mm L);
Interior view of hinge and teeth;
Another example (33 mm H x 60 mm L)
- Potamilus purpuratus
(Lamarck, 1819)
- Bleufer, Purple Shell, Pink Granny
(80 mm H x 97 mm L); Interior view (open)
- Ptychobranchus fasciolaris
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Kidneyshell (49 mm H x 83 mm W); Tennessee River
- Pyganodon (=Anodonta) grandis
(Say, 1829)
- Giant Floater, Floater (104 mm H x 151 mm L)
- Another example (105 mm H x 171 mm L);
Interior view (open);
Interior view (open);
Another example (68 mm H x 105 mm L)
- Quadrula apiculata
(Say, 1829)
- Southern Mapleleaf (69 mm H x 76 mm L x 52 mm W);
Interior view of hinge and teeth; Lay Lake,
Coosa/Chilton Counties, AL
- Another example: (Male, 52 mm H x 59 mm L x
32.5 mm W); (Female, 50.5 mm H x 62 mm L x 37 mm W); South Alabama
- Quadrula asperata
(I. Lea, 1861)
- Alabama Orb (55.5 mm H x 64.5 mm L); Interior view of
hinge and teeth; Chewacla Creek, Macon County,
AL
- Quadrula cylindrica cylindrica
(Say, 1817)
- Rabbitsfoot, Cob Shell (34 mm H x 81 mm L); Interior
view of hinge and teeth; North Alabama (Tennessee
River System)
- Quadrula metanevra
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Monkeyface (73 mm H x 97 mm L)
- Quadrula pustulosa
(I. Lea, 1831)
- Pimpleback (60 mm H x 59 mm L); Interior view of
hinge and teeth; Tennessee River, Decatur, AL
- Quadrula quadrula
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Mapleleaf (61 mm H x 71 mm L); Interior view of
hinge and teeth
- Another example (43 mm H x 49 mm L); A
very pustular specimen (57 mm H x 70 mm L)
- Toxolasma parvus
(Barnes, 1823)
- Lilliput (14.5 mm H x 27 mm L);
Another example (14.5 mm H x 27 mm L)
- Toxolasma paulus
(I. Lea, 1840)
- Iridescent Lilliput (22 mm H x 39 mm L);
Interior view of hinge and teeth; Hunter Creek, Conecuh County, AL
- Tritogonia verrucosa
(Rafinesque, 1820)
- Pistolgrip, Buckhorn (Female, 61 mm H x 128 mm L);
Interior view of hinge and teeth;
Another Female (66 mm H x 122 mm L);
Male (66 mm H x 107 mm L)
- Truncilla donaciformis
(I. Lea, 1828)
- Fawnsfoot (17.5 mm H x 27 mm L)
- Uniomerus caroliniana
(Bosc, 1801)
- Florida Pondhorn (37 mm H x 77 mm L); Interior view
of hinge and teeth (Interior stained and
deteriorated); Hunter Creek, Conecuh County, AL
- Utterbackia (=Anodonta) imbecillis
(Say, 1829)
- Paper Pondshell, Paper Floater; (21 mm H x 40 mm L)
- Villosa iris
(I. Lea, 1829)
- Rainbow (Left, 28 mm H x 54 mm L);
(Right, 20 mm H x 39 mm L); Interior view of
hinge and teeth; Estill Fork, Jackson County, AL
- Villosa lienosa
(Conrad, 1834)
- Little Spectaclecase (Male on left, 28 mm H x 55 mm L);
(Female, 23 mm H x 44 mm L); Interior view of hinge
and teeth; Hunter Creek, Conecuh County, AL
- Villosa taeniata
(Conrad, 1834)
- Painted Creekshell (34 mm H x 55 mm L); Estill Fork,
Jackson County, AL
- Villosa vanuxemensis
(I. Lea, 1838)
- Mountain Creekshell (Female on left, 23.5 mm H x 40
mm L); (Male, 30 mm H x 50 mm L); Interior view of
hinge and teeth; Another
example (21 mm H x 35 mm L); Estill Fork, Jackson County, AL
- Villosa vibex
(Conrad, 1834)
- Southern Rainbow (30 mm H x 60 mm L); Hunter Creek,
Conecuh County, AL
- Miniatures/juveniles
(Next to a dress pin)
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T, U, V,
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Y, Z
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This page has been accessed
times since 6 February 1997.
Last revised 11 August 2000 (dw)