OutdoorNebraska

70 Pondmussel, Ligumia subrostrata Description: The Pondmussel is a small dark brown to black mussel that is less than 100 long. The posterior end terminates into a blunt point above center. The nacre is white and the hinge teeth are thin ridges. The beak sculpture is a series of closely spaced V-shaped ridges. The posterior end of the female shell is broader and more inflated, giving it a distinct trapezoidal shape on the posterior end. Hinge teeth quite thin. Similar species: Small Black sandshells can look very similar but their hinge teeth tend to be heavier and their beak sculpture, if any, is only a few lines. The Yellow sandshell has a yellow and heavier shell. The Fatmucket is rounder on the posterior end with a yellowish-brown exterior, often with green rays. Conservation status: G5, N5, S1. Historically, the Pondmussel was common in southeast Nebraska. The only live specimen found was a single in the upper Elkhorn River. Hosts: Bluegill, green sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, largemouth bass. Habitats used: Small creeks or ponds in mud or sand (Cummings and Mayer 1992). Creeks to small rivers in soft or coarse substrate (Seitman 2003). Shallow ponds, the shallow portion of lakes, sloughs, and quiet pools in rivers (Oesch 1995). ). Shallow ponds, the shallow portion of lakes, sloughs, and quieter water areas in larger rivers in substrates of mud or sand (Parmalee and Bogan 1998). Distribution: The Mississippi River basin from Texas up through South Dakota over through Minnesota and Wisconsin into Michigan then down through Kentucky/Tennessee to Louisiana. Collection notes: This shell of this species has most commonly been found in the Big Blue River and Nemaha River basin. It has also been found in the Little Blue River, Logan Creek, and the upper Elkhorn River though most collections have been of relict shell. Dead shell have been found in the Nemaha and Big Blue Rivers. The only live collection has been from the upper Elkhorn River. Archeologically, this has been found in Sarpy, Douglas, and Washington Counties in the Missouri Tributaries basin as well as Webster County in the Republican basin. Comments: The collection of a live Pondmussel in the upper Elkhorn River is very odd as this is way outside the known range. If others cannot be found, we have to assume that the species may be extirpated from Nebraska.

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