OutdoorNebraska

66 Plain pocketbook, Lampsilis cardium Description: The Plain pocketbook is a moderately large oval-shaped mussel with, when live, a tan shell with 15-20 thin green stripes radiated out from the beak. The shell is thin at the posterior end but fairly thick at the anterior end. The nacre is white. The beaks are large and curl around to meet each other. The females have a greatly inflated posterior end but the males not so much. The beak sculpture of several coarse ridges in adults is often worn away but can be seen on juveniles. Similar species: The Higgins eye is similar to the Plain Pocketbook. The Plain Pocketbook gets larger, is generally a light tan color and has a beak sculpture of several heavy ridges. The collection of any shell suspected to be a Higgins eye should be reported. Conservation status: G5, N5, S2. The Plain pocketbook was once widely spread. It is now restricted to the upper Elkhorn River. Hosts: Black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, sauger, walleye, white crappie, and yellow perch as well as tiger salamander. Habitats used: Small creeks to large rivers in mud, sand, or gravel (Cummings and Mayer 1992). Creeks to large rivers in soft or coarse substrate (Seitman 2003). Quiet to swift water in almost any substrate except moving sand (Oesch 1995). Medium to large rivers in moderate to strong current on coarse gravel and sand. Seems to thrive on stable substrate with high percentage of mud and silt (Parmalee and Bogan 1998). Creeks, rivers, ponds, and lakes on many substrates and water flows (Watters et.al. 2009). In Nebraska, it is found in the upper Elkhorn River on sand and shifting sand substrate as well as in Atkinson State Lake. Native range: The Mississippi River basin from Arkansas and Tennessee north to Minnesota to New York. St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes. Canada from Saskatchewan to Ontario. Nebraska collection notes: Shell of this species are common in the Big Blue and upper Elkhorn Rivers. They have also been found in Medicine Creek, Wood River, Loup River and Logan Creek as relict shell. The only live population is in the upper Elkhorn River. Comments: Noting the wide variety of host fishes as well as the broad suitability of a variety of habitats, it is puzzling why the species is almost extirpated from the state. It is possible that the fragmentation by numerous power dams in the late 1900's limited the movement of their fish hosts and hurt their ability to maintain their populations. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is currently spawning and rearing juveniles for re- introduction into watersheds where they were historically found.

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