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56 Paper pondshell, Utterbackia imbecillis Description: The Paper pondshell is a short-lived species that will get up to 100mm or so. It has an elongate and inflated shell that is very thin and delicate. The anterior end is rounded while the posterior end is bluntly pointed. The beak area is flat and may have some weak circular ridges. The interior is white. The exterior is a smooth, glossy tan, green or brown. Similar species: It is somewhat similar to the Giant floater, Creeper and Cylindrical papershell in that they are all thin-shelled species lacking lateral or pseudocardinal teeth. However, the extreme thinness of the shell of this species as well as the flattened beak area with minimal sculpturing distinguishes this species. Conservation status: G5, N5, S5. The Paper pondshell has been found in quite a few areas around the state, especially reservoirs where it does well. Hosts: Black crappie, bluegill, bullfrog, channel catfish, creek chub, golden shiner, goldfish, green sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, rock bass, spotfin shiner, tiger salamander, western mosquitofish, yellow perch. Habitats used: Ponds, lakes and sluggish mud-bottomed pools of creeks and rivers (Cummings and Mayer 1992). Ponds and lakes. Quiet backwaters with sandy to muddy bottoms in rivers (Oesch 1995). Characteristic of impounded rivers where it inhabits the shallow bank and bay areas in mud and fine sand substrate. Ponds, borrow pits and drainage canals (Parmalee and Bogan 1998). Soft substrates in lakes, ponds, and impoundments (Watters et.al. 2009). Distribution: Widely distributed from Texas to North Dakota and east to the Atlantic Ocean. Not found in New England or New York. Collection notes: Relict shells are uncommon and the species has not been found in archeological digs. Lives are found across the state from border to border, most commonly in reservoirs. Comments: The Paper pondshell has an extremely thin shell which can be easily crushed in the hand. Perhaps this might explain why it is seldom found as a relict. It does well in reservoirs and introduction via stocked fishes is a good probability. On the other hand, when a stream is impounded, they are one of the few species that will find the new habitat to its liking. It has an extensive list of host fishes but is also reported to be one of the few freshwater mussels that can reproduce without a host.

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