OutdoorNebraska

50 Lilliput, Toxolasma parvum Description: The Lilliput is a small mussel, rarely getting as large as 50mm though most are smaller. Its shape is a long oval that looks somewhat rectangular and is really inflated for its size. The shell is thin and has a coarse exterior, often described as "cloth-like" which is accurate. It is usually a dark brown color. The nacre is white. The anterior end is rounded and the posterior end is somewhat truncated and squarish. They have lateral and pseudocardinal teeth. The beaks are low and have a sculpturing of several coarse concentric ridges. Similar species: There are no other species of mussel in Nebraska that look quite like a Lilliput. Conservation status: G5, N5, S4. This species may be doing ok in southeastern Nebraska. It is a very small mussel so could be easily overlooked so records may be incomplete. Hosts: Bluegill, green sunfish, johnny darter, orangespotted sunfish, white crappie. \ Habitats used: Ponds, lakes and creeks to large rivers in mud, sand and gravel (Cummings and Mayer 1992). Quiet water areas on mud or mud and sand (Oesch 1995). Shallows of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs as well as small to large rivers on mud, sand or fine gravel (Parmalee and Bogan 1998). Most common in muddy sand or clay in creeks and impoundments (Watters et.al. 2009). Distribution: Widespread in North America. From the bottom tip of Texas through the Great Plains states to Canada, east to New York then down through Tennessee to Louisiana. Collection notes: Most records for the Lilliput are from the Big Blue River basin but they have also been found in the Nemaha, the Lower Platte, the Missouri Tributaries, the Elkhorn and Loup basins. I have also found them in the Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam. Lives have been found in the Salt Creek watershed, Indian Creek (Big Blue basin), and Summit Reservoir (Missouri Tributaries basin). There are archeological records from the Republican basin. Comments: I would like to know more about this cute little mussel. As it rarely exceeds 50mm, it can be easily overlooked so may be more common than the records indicate since it does well in impoundments. I would particularly look at reservoirs in the southeast such as the Salt Valley, Papio and NRD watershed reservoirs.

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