74
Scaleshell, Leptodea leptodon
Description: The Scaleshell has a
small, thin, elongate shell. Less than
100mm in length, the beak is set very
near the anterior end. The posterior
end usually comes to a long blunt
point. The shell is smooth and a
greenish-tan color. Females are more
rounded posteriorly and may have a
wavy shell extension There is no beak
sculpture.
Similar species: The Fragile
papershell is the only similar species
and these are oval, not elongate.
Conservation status: G1, N1/N2, S1.
The status of the Scaleshell is
unknown in Nebraska.
Hosts: Freshwater drum.
Habitats used: Large rivers in mud
(Cummings and Mayer 1992).
Medium to large rivers in soft or
coarse substrate and good current
(Seitman 2003). Clear, unpolluted
water with good current in riffles
(Oesch 1995). Sandy mud and cobble
in rivers (Watters et.al. 2009).
Distribution: The Mississippi River
basin from Minnesota to Tennessee
and back up to New York including
Great Lakes tributaries on south.
Collection notes: This species is
represented by three valves collected
below Gavins Point Dam. These
included a single fresh-dead valve
collected in the early 1980's and two
valves found at RM 809.8 on 22
October 2005.
Comments: As a federally
endangered species, this one would be
a likely candidate for restoration
efforts. However, this can hardly be
considered to be a Nebraska species as
we are actually beyond the western
edge of its range. Getting broodstock
is probably impossible and, in any
case, should wait until propagation
techniques are fully developed.
